Genetic Modification of Amylase Producing Fungi (Paperback)

Amylase is an enzyme that hydrolyses starch for the production of ethanol and fructose. It has many applications in today's market place. In industry, it is very advantageous to find organisms that can produce specific enzymes. Fungi being potential source of enzymes with scientific and commercial interests have a great potential to degrade polysaccharide constituents of starch. The present study was, therefore, designed to screen efficient species of fungi from already reported amylase enzyme producers. The isolates expressing maximum efficiency were exposed to UV and chemical mutagens to further enhance their enzyme production potential. Comparative bioactivity assays of mutants obtained were carried out to select the high yielding strains. Growth of potential strains was conditioned on agri-wastes products to evolve economically feasible technology for amylase production to meet industrial sector demand.