Protoplast release from fungi capable of steroid transformation

Protoplasts were obtained from Hyphoderma roseum (Fries) and Cunninghamella elegans (Lendner), fungi capable of steroid 11-hydroxylation. The lytic enzyme preparation was derived from Trichoderma viride CBS 354-33. Homogeneous protoplast suspension, free of mycelial debris and cell wall fragments, transformed cortexolone and 6α-fluorocortexolone-16,17-acetonide to the same products as the intact mycelium of the microorganisms. Liberation of protoplasts and their stabilizaiton during steroid transformation was the most effective in 0.8 M MgSO4; still, this compound impaired steroid hydroxylation. Consequently, the concentration of the transformation product formed was nearly the same as in sucrose, mannitol, and sorbitol, compounds which caused no inhibition but which were less effective stabilizers.

Isolation of protoplasts from Aspergillus nidulans conidiospores

Protoplasts were prepared from conidiospores of Aspergillus nidulans. The mononucleated conidia gave protoplasts of a uniform size, approximately 5-μm diameter, depending on the strain and the stabilizing medium used. Conidia were preincubated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose in a minimal medium at 37 °C for 3 h. The swollen conidia were collected, resuspended in a buffer containing 0.4 M (NH4)2SO4 as stabilizer, and incubated with Oerskovia lytic enzymes at 30 °C for 3 or 4 h. Approximately 80% of the conidia were converted into protoplasts. The protoplasts were separated from cell wall fragments and intact conidia by centrifugation over 30% sucrose. This isolation procedure gives a suspension of mononucleated or binucleated protoplasts suitable for recombination experiments and other studies for which a homogenous protoplast suspension is required. The procedure was also successful for Aspergillus niger.