Fritz Wagner

Production of extracellular β-1,3-/β-1,6-glucan by mono- and dikaryons ofSchizophyllum commune

Abstract From the dikaryotic mycelium of Schizophyllum commune ATCC 38548 several monokaryotic strains were obtained by isolating the two types of monokaryotic protoplasts and their reversion to hyphal growth. The dikaryotic S. commune ATCC 38548 produced about 10 g/liter of extracellular β-1,3-/β-1,6-glucan (schizophyllan) after 96 h of growth, while the monokaryons excreted much less of this polysaccharide. During growth of strains of both types of monokaryons indigo and β-1,3-glucanase activities were excreted. Two selected monokaryons were mated with other monokaryotic S. commune strains and some of the dikaryotic mycelia obtained produced about 12 g/liter of extracellular β-1,3-/β-1,6-glucan after 120 h of cultivation.

Degradation of 5-pregnene-3β, 20β-diol by a Nocardia sp.

SummaryWith growing cells of a Nocardia sp., isolated from soil, the degradation of 5-pregnene-3β, 20β-diol into 3-[5-oxo-7aβ-methyl-1β (1′β-hydroxo)-ethyl-3aα-perhydroindane-4α]-propionic acid was investigated. The results show that iron is essential for production of the perhydroindanpropionic acid, that this production is greatly enhanced by the presence of calcium and that it is maximal in the pH range 7.0–7.5.