Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The present results demonstrate that the catalytic characteristics of cutinase produced by the same strain differ depending on the culture medium used. This conclusion was possible after the study of biochemical characterization and enantioselective properties of cutinases produced by Fusarium oxysporum in four different culture mediums. The mediums were composed of wheat bran, soybean rind, rice bran and Jatropha curcas seed cake, different Brazilian agricultural by-products. The largest difference can be observed on cutinase produced by J. curcas seed cake. This enzyme has been activated in most metal ions tested and exhibited excellent stability in organic solvent, especially hexane. The cutinase produced in rice bran showed greatest activity in the presence of p-nitrophenyl butyrate as a substrate, whereas the other enzymes showed greatest activity in the presence of p-nitrophenyl caprilate. Regarding enantioselective properties the cutinase produced in soybean rind showed the best result compared to enzymes produced in wheat bran. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.7241732181186Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)