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Effect of the level of the carbon source on the activity of some lytic enzymes released during autolysis of Aspergillus niger

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Abstract

Changes in the activity of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, chitinase, invertase, esterases, glucanases and phosphatases liberated into the culture fluid were followed during the autolytic phase of growth of Aspergillus niger on media with various initial levels of the carbon source. The general pattern was of an accumulation of these lytic enzymes in the culture fluid during autolysis, but some enzymes reached maximum activity and then declined. The initial level of the carbon source affected the enzyme pattern during autolysis. Maximum activity for the various enzymes was always observed either for the lowest initial level of carbon or the highest (3.5 mM glucose, 111 mM glucose). The highest specific activities were those for exopolygalacturonidase (500 mU/mg at 3.45 mM glucose), and for α-amylase (about 500 mU/mg at 3.45 mM glucose). Cellulase, chitinase and esterase showed the weakest activity. Acid phosphatase was most active (about 200 mU/mg) at 3.45 mM initial glucose, whereas alkaline phosphatase was most active (45 mU/mg) at 111 mM glucose, both during the autolytic phase of growth.

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Gómez, P., Reyes, F. & Lahoz, R. Effect of the level of the carbon source on the activity of some lytic enzymes released during autolysis of Aspergillus niger. Mycopathologia 62, 23–30 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491992

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