ENHANCED CELLULASE PRODUCTION BY A MUTANT OF TRICHODERMA-REESEI

The need for renewable energy resources has focused attention on the r enewable polysaccharide cellulose, which can be enzymatically hydrolyz ed to yield sugars. Trichoderma reesei QM9414, a cellulolytic microorg anism, was subjected to mutagenesis using a combination of ultraviolet light and sodium nitrite (45 min, 0.5 mg ml(-1)). A cellulase hyperpr oducing mutant, whose enzyme is more resistant to catabolite repressio n by glucose and cellobiose, was isolated. Enhancement in cellulase yi elds (1.5- to 1.75-fold) and hydrolytic potential (1.2-fold) was achie ved. The mild chemical mutagen used in this research has not been repo rted before.