**4.2.3 Production of salt-tolerant acid protease by** *A. oryzae* **LK-101**

Proteolytic bacterium was isolated from traditional Korean soybean paste on agar plates incubated for 2 to 4 weeks. Spores suspension was transferred to the seed culture medium (pH 3.0) containing glucose, corn steep liquor, Hyflo Super-Cel, and a defoaming agent. The bacterium was identified by rDNA sequencing method and and named as *A. oryzae* LK-101. For the production of protease, *A. oryzae* LK-101 was cultivated in a 500 mL flask containing 200 mL of 2% defatted soybean flour culture broth at 27 °C for 4 days in a shaking incubator at 150 rpm. The optimal protease production reached 973 U/L (Fu et al., 2008).
