The use of continuous cultures for selection and isolation of microorganisms producing extracellular enzymes adapted to extreme environments.
Microorganisms producing extracellular enzymes with special properties can be selected and isolated by growing them in continous culture and using as the growth-limiting substrate a substance which must be broken down by the enzyme of interest. A diffusion layer around the microbial cell will cause gradients in the concentrations of enzymes and the hydrolyzed substrate. This will cause differences in growth rates between the parent cells and those mutant cells which produce an enzyme better adapted to the selective environment provided.
Unilever Research Laboratorium Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
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