Selective Isolation and Characterization of Schwanniomyces castellii Mutants with Increased Production of a-Amylase and Glucoamylase

This study was carried out to isolate and characterize the mutant strains of Schwanniomyces castellii NRRL Y-2477. Mutants were prepared with the treatment of ethyl methane sulfonate. 2-deoxy-D-glucose resistant mutants were isolated and two mutants were selected based on their high production of amylolytic enzymes and their ability to ferment starch. The mutants selected had higher a-amylase and glucoamylase activities than the wild type strain from several other carbon sources. Especially, it was revealed that mutant strain M-9, when cultured in the presence of glucose as a sole carbon source, shows relatively high activities of a-amylase and glucoamylase compared to those of the wild type strain. In result, this mutant strain can be considered as a constitutive producer of amylolytic enzymes. To compare the ethanol production ability of wild type strain and of mutant strains selected, an alcohol fermentation was carried out using 100 g/l soluble starch. Mutant strain M-9 did not improve the direct alcohol fermentation of starch, despite its excellent amylolytic activities performance. On the other hand, mutant strain M-6 produced 37.9 g/l (4.8%, v/v) ethanol by utilizing about 82% of substrate.