[Comparative physiological and biochemical characteristics of Aspergillus niger isolated from the mesosphere and of its mutant].

The aim of this work was to study certain physiological-biochemical characteristics of Aspergillus niger, strain 26, isolated from the mesosphere as well as those of its mutant having light-brown conidia. The parent strain and its mutant were grown in a liquid Chapek medium to study accumulation of the biomass, changes in the pH of the medium, as well as assimilation of glucose, nitrogen (NO3-) and phosphorus (PO4-). The content of polysaccharides, protein, RNA and DNA was determined in the biomass. The parent culture and its mutant had the same growth dynamics and changes in the pH of the growth medium. They assimilated nitrogen, phosphorus and glucose at the same rate. No significant differences were found in the content of DNA, RNA, protein and polysaccharides. Lipids were an exception: their content was higher by ca. 26% in the mutant as compared with the parent strain. Apparently, the elevated sensitivity of the mutant to UV is due not only to a loss of certain pigments, but also to a damage of other protective mechanisms of the cell.