PROTECTION OF ASPERGILLUS-NIGER CELLULASES BY UREA DURING GROWTH ON GLUCOSE OR GLYCEROL SUPPLEMENTED MEDIA

The cellulase enzymes of Aspergillus niger were found to undergo catabolite repression in the presence of glucose and glycerol accompanied by sudden drop in pH of the fermentation medium below 2.0. This sudden drop in pH caused inactivation of cellulolytic enzymes produced by Aspergillus niger. The supplementation of nitrogen sources, especially urea, protects A. niger cellulases from inactivation caused by a sudden drop in pH, since urea helped to maintain the pH of the fermentation medium between 3.5 and 4.5. The role of urea in the protection of cellulase was more prominent when it was used in combination with glycerol (5%).