Quantitative Physiology of T. reesei

By employing a two-stage continuous culture system, some of important physiological parameters involved in cellulase bicsynthesis have been evalua-ted with an ultimate objective of detigning an op-timally controlled tellulase process. Volumetric and specific cellulase productivities obtained were 90 IU/liter/hr and 8IU/g biomass/hr respectively. The maximum specific enzyme productivity observed was 14.8 IU/g hiomass/hr. The optimal dilution rate in the second stage which corresponded to the maximum enzyme productivity was 0.026-0.028 hr$^{-1}$ , and the specific growth rate in the second stage ihat suported maximum specific enzyme productivity was equal to orslightly less than zero. The maintenance coefficients deter-mined for oxygen and for carbon source are M$_{o}$=0.85mmmole/g biomass/hr and M$_{c}$=0.14 mmole hexose/g bio mass/hr respectively. The yield constants determined are; Y(x/o) =32.3g biomass/mole oxygen, Y (x/c) =1.1g bio-mass/g carbon or 0.44g biomass/g hexose, Y(x/n) = 19.6g biomass/g nitrogen for the enzyme produc-tion stage and 12.5g biomass/g nitrogen for the cell growth stage.e.e.