Hydrolysis of orange peel by a pectin lyase-overproducing hybrid obtained by protoplast fusion between mutant pectinolytic Aspergillus flavipes and Aspergillus niveus CH-Y-1043

Pectin lyases cleave the internal glycosidic bonds of pectin by β-elimination, producing non-saturated galacturonic oligomers. Genetic improvement of pectin lyase-overproducing strains is still necessary to improve industrial processes based on this enzyme. In the present study hybrids were obtained by protoplast fusion between mutant pectinolytic Aspergillus flavipes and Aspergillus niveus CH-Y-1043 strains. Prototrophic segregants showed different isoenzymatic profiles and produced increased levels of pectin lyase in cultures containing lemon peel as a sole carbon source. Hybrid HZ showed an increase of 450% and 1300% in pectin lyase production compared with that of A. niveus CH-Y-1043 and A. flavipes, respectively. Pectin lyase produced by the hybrid HZ was partially purified and used for the hydrolysis of orange peel. Pectin lyase was able to hydrolyze 56% of orange peel biomass. However, addition of 2 RFU and 20 U of endo- and exo-polygalacturonase, respectively, induced the hydrolysis of 92% of orange peel solids. In conclusion HZ is a pectin lyase-overproducing hybrid with potential applications in the pectin industry.