PRODUCTION OF POLYSACCHARIDASES BY A CELLULASE-PECTINASE HYPERPRODUCING MUTANT (PO16) OF PENICILLIUM-OCCITANIS

A new Penicillium strain characterized by high yields of extracellular cellulase production, particularly β-glucosidase, was isolated from soil. On the basis of growth characteristics, reverse coloration, and structure of Penicilli, this strain was assigned to a new species, named Penicillium occitanis. The organism was subjected to a strain-improvement program, and a mutant (Pol6) was selected after several rounds of mutagenesis with NTG, EMS, and UV. Selection was for strains that were resistant to catabolite repression and were enhanced in cellulase and pectinase production. The strain Pol6 was also found to produce other polysaccharide-hydrolysing enzymes when grown on various inducing substrates. The production of polysaccharidases by Penicillium occitanis strain Pol6, under various fermentation conditions, and their preliminary separation by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography is discussed. © 1990.