Expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae endochitinase in Aspergillus awamori

A gene encoding endochitinase activity was isolated by PCR from Saccharomyc es cerevisiae NCYC686 and placed under the control of fungal transcriptiona l elements regulating glucoamylase expression. Following transformation of Aspergillus awamori with this expression construct, heterologous endochitin ase was induced in positive transformants by the addition of starch to the growth medium. A series of optimisation and process development studies wer e then undertaken, the result of which was the production of heterologous e ndochitinase activity at 343 U g(-1) of total protein. It was found also th at the yield of enzyme decreased upon scale-up from shake flask to 3 l pilo t scale.