title: Chitin-glucan complex production by Schizophyllum commune submerged cultivation.
abstract: Chitin-glucan complex is a fungal origin copolymer that finds application in medicine and cosmetics. Traditionally, the mycelium of Micromycetes is considered as an industrial chitin-glucan complex source. Basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune submerged cultivation for chitin-glucan complex production was studied. In different S. commune strains chitin-glucan complex composed 15.2 +/- 0.4 to 30.2 +/- 0.2% of mycelium dry weight. Optimized conditions for chitin-glucan complex production (nutrient medium composition in g/l: sucrose - 35, yeast extract - 4, Na2HPO4*12H2O - 2.5, MgSO4*7 H2O - 0.5; medium initial pH 6.5; aeration intensity 21 of air per 11 of medium; 144 hours of cultivation) resulted in 3.5 +/- 0.3 g/l complex yield. Redirection of fungal metabolism from exopolysaccharide synthesis to chitin-glucan complex accumulation was achieved most efficiently by aeration intensity increase. Chitin-glucan complex from S. commune had the structure of microfibers with diameter 1-2 microm, had water-swelling capacity of 18 g/g, and was composed of 16.63% chitin and 83.37% glucan with a degree of chitin deacetylation of 26.9%. S. commune submerged cultivation is a potent alternative to Micromycetes for industrial-scale chitin-glucan complex production.
authors.affiliation: CPN Ltd., Dolní Dobrouc, Czech Republic. smirnou@contipro.cz
authors.forename: Dzianis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smirnou
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krcmar
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prochazkova
mesh_terms: D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005936:Glucans / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025282:Mycelium / Q000254:growth & development; D012567:Schizophyllum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D002686:Chitin