Enhanced shear protection and increased production of an anti-tumor polysaccharide by Agaricus blazei in xanthan-supplemented cultures.

Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan 32054, P.R. China. chinshu@cc.ncu.edu.tw

Xanthan supplementation provided shear protection and stimulated polysaccharide production by Agaricus blazei. In xanthan-free cultures, the optimal cell yield, 0.63 g biomass g(-1) glucose, and product yield, 0.19 g polysaccharide g(-1) glucose, were, respectively, when the critical impeller tip speed was 50.3 cm s(-1) and 100.5 cm s(-1). Furthermore, the critical impeller tip speed of cell yield shifted from 50.3 cm s(-1) to 100.5 cm s(-1) with the supplementation of 1 g xanthan l(-1). Maximum specific product yield, namely 0.74 g polysaccharide g(-1) biomass, was achieved with inlet air supply of 3% O2 and impeller tip speed of 100.5 cm s(-1).