SCREENING OF YEASTS AND YEAST-LIKE ORGANISMS AUREOBASIDIUM-PULLULANS FOR PULLULAN PRODUCTION

The occurrence of the polysaccharide pullulan is described in a select ed group of 31 Aureobasidium pullulans strains. During growth of organ isms of this genus and species in the cultivation medium, the increase in biomass production was investigated with reference to pullulan pro duction. The accompanying proteins and the optimal producers of this p olysaccharide by Aureobasidium pullulans strains (CCY 27-1-37, CCY 27- 1-22, CCY 27-1-26 and CCY 27-1-14) were also determined. Attempts were made to identify the structure of pullulan by paper chromatography as well as by enzymatic methods. The structure of pullulan was determine d by NMR, and its molecular weight was also measured.