title: Utilization of agricultural biomass in the production of the biopolymer schizophyllan.
abstract: Schizophyllan is a homoglucan produced by the fungus Schizophyllum commune, with a β-1,3-linked backbone and β-1,6-linked side chains of single glucose units at every other residue. Schizophyllan is commercially produced for pharmaceutical and cosmetics uses. However, the unique physical properties of schizophyllan suggest that it may have biomaterials applications. Schizophyllan is conventionally produced by submerged culture fermentation using glucose as a carbon source. This study demonstrates for the first time the efficient utilization of agricultural biomass substrates, particularly distiller's dried grains with solubles, for schizophyllan production. Sugar composition analysis, NMR, and permethylation linkage analysis confirmed that the recovered product was schizophyllan. Schizophyllan produced from agricultural residues was of a high molecular weight and exhibited solution viscosity properties similar to those of commercially produced material. Utilization of biomass substrates could reduce the cost of schizophyllan production and provide a new value-added bioproduct for integrated biorefineries of the future.
authors.affiliation: Renewable Product Technology Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL 61604, USA.
authors.forename: Nongnuch
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sutivisedsak
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Leathers
authors.forename: Melinda S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nunnally
authors.forename: Neil P J
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Girma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biresaw
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005285:Fermentation; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D012567:Schizophyllum / Q000378:metabolism; D012566:Sizofiran / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D012566:Sizofiran