PRODUCTION OF PECTINESTERASE AND POLYGALACTURONASE BY ASPERGILLUS-NIGER IN SUBMERGED AND SOLID-STATE SYSTEMS

Production of pectinesterase and polygalacturonase by Aspergillus nige r was studied in submerged and solid-state fermentation systems, With pectin as a sole carbon source, pectinesterase and polygalacturonase p roduction were four and six times higher respectively in a solid state system than in a submerged fermentation system and required a shorter time for enzyme production, The addition of glucose increased pectine sterase and polygalacturonase production in the solid state system but in submerged fermentation the production was markedly inhibited, A co mparison of enzyme productivities showed that those determined for pec tinesterase and polygalacturonase with pectin as a carbon source were three and five times higher by using the solid state rather than the s ubmerged fermentation system, The productivities of the two enzymes we re affected by glucose in both fermentation systems. The membranes of cells from the solid state fermentation showed increased levels of C18 :1, C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids, Differences in the regulation of enzy me synthesis by Aspergillus niger depended on the fermentation system, favoring the solid state over the submerged fermentation for pectinas e production.