title: Mutation of Alternaria tenuissima FCBP-252 for hyper-active alpha-amylase.
abstract: Production of extracellular alpha-amylase enzyme by a filamentous fungus, Alternaria tenuissima was studied in solid-state fermentation (SSF) as well as submerged fermentation (SmF). The potential strain was successfully mutated by UV and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). High-level of alpha-amylase activity was obtained by the mutant At-Ch-5.6 (76.75 Units mL(-1)) after chemical treatment followed by UV mutant At-UV-2.8 (63.12 Units mL(-1)) which was significantly higher than parental A. tenuissima FCBP-252 (32 Units mL(-1)). These mutants with high levels of activity were genetically characterized using RAPD-PCR. Expression pattern of mutants exhibited that the mutants were isogenic variants of parent strain and out-performance of the mutants could be attributed to change in genetic make up. This work represented the first report of strain improvement in Alternaria for hyper activity of alpha-amylase enzyme and suggested that this fungus could be used to extract purified enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore, Pakistan. sobiya_shafique@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sobiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafique
authors.forename: Rukhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bajwa
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafique
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D005285:Fermentation; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D000516:alpha-Amylases