EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES PRODUCED BY Z-RAMIGERA MUTANTS AND ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL-CHANGE BY SOLUTION PROPERTIES

The exopolysaccharides produced by Z. ramigera mutants were purified b y the precipitation with isopropyl alcohol and characterized. The phys iological changes of mutant cells resulted the changes in the structur e of the product, Zooglan, which could be determined by the measuremen t of hydrodynamic properties. Zooglans produced by Z. ramigera SL, SLR and MM1 gave intrinsic viscosities of 14.3 dl/g, 12.2 dl/g and 9.1 dl /g, respectively. The intrinsic viscosity of Zooglan produced by Z. ra migera MM1/pLEX2F increased to 14.8 dl/g. The hydrodynamic property ex pressed as the intrinsic viscosity of Zooglans could explain the alter ation of the structure of Zooglan synthesized by the physiological act ivities of the mutant cells.