ALGINATE OLIGOSACCHARIDES AS ENHANCERS OF PENICILLIN PRODUCTION IN CULTURES OF PENICILLIUM-CHRYSOGENUM

Oligosaccharide fragments were prepared by partial acid hydrolysis of sodium alginate and consisted of oligomannuronate (OM) and oligoguluro nate (OG) blocks. Effects of the OM and OG blocks on penicillin G prod uction by P. chrysogenum were investigated. The oligosaccharides were found to cause significant increases in penicillin G yields. OM blocks at concentrations 10 to 100 mu g/mL were used to further evaluate the effects of the oligosaccharides, and were found to enhance the produc tion of penicillin G in shaken flask cultures of P. chrysogenum P2 (hi gh penicillin producer) and NRRL 1951 (low penicillin producer) at the test concentrations. There was an approximately 50% maximum increase in penicillin G yield from biomass in P. chrysogenum P2 cultures and 1 50% in P. chrysogenum NRRL 1951 cultures, when compared to control cul tures without the oligosaccharides. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.