The effects of oxygenation in cultures of _~Åáääìë=ÅáêÅìä~åë BL32 on transglutaminase (TGase) production and cell sporulation were studied by varying the agitation speed and the volume of aeration. Kinetics of cultivations has been studied in batch systems using a 2 L bioreactor, and the efficiency of agitation and aeration was evaluated through the oxygen volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k L a). It was adopted a two-stage aeration rate control strategy: first stage to induce biomass formation, followed by a second stage, in which cell sporulation was stimulated. A correlation of TGase production, spores formation, and oxygen concentration was established. Under the best conditions (500 rpm; 2 vvm air flow, followed by no air supply during stationary phase; k L a of 33.7 h -1 ), TGase production reached a volumetric production of 589 U/L after 50 h of cultivation and the enzyme yield was 906 U/g cells. These values are 61% higher than that obtained in shaker cultures and TGase productivity increased 82%, when k L a varied from 4.4 to 33.7 h -1 . The maximal cell concentration increased four times in relation to shaker cultures and the cultivation time for the highest TGase activity was reduced from 192 h to just 50 h. These results show the importance of bioprocess design for the production of microbial TGase, especially concerning the oxygen supply of cultures and the induction of cell sporulation. © KSBB hÉóïçêÇëW=íê~åëÖäìí~ãáå~ëÉI=ëéçêÉë=Ñçêã~íáçåI=Bacillus circulans=_iPO, ~Éê~íáçåI=~Öáí~íáçåI=îçäìãÉíêáÅ=çñóÖÉå=ã~ëë= íê~åëÑÉê=ÅçÉÑÑáÅáÉåí=Eâ i~F =