title: Genetic improvement of Aspergillus carbonarius for pectinase overproduction during solid state growth.
abstract: Low pectinase production by Aspergillus carbonarius growing on wheat bran solid substrate was found to be due to reduced colonizational ability of the fungus. Since A. niger showed higher growth rates on wheat bran, strain improvement to obtain higher pectinase production in solid state was carried out by inter-specific fusion of protoplasts of A. carbonarius and A. niger. One of the mutants selected for higher activities of alpha-glucosidase showed improved growth rates on wheat bran solid substrate together with increased pectinase production. Size similarities of amplified polymorphic DNA of the mutant with the two parents and identification of a 66 kDa polygalacturonase specific to A. niger suggested genetic recombination in the mutant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Microbiology, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore-570 013, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umesh-Kumar
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005285:Fermentation; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D011096:Polygalacturonase