Exopolysaccharide production by entrapped cells of the fungusAureobasidium pullulans ATCC 201253

The production of the exopolysaccharide pullulan using entrapped cells of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 201253 was investigated. Fungal cells entrapped in agarose or carrageenan were capable of elaborating pullulan for 2 production cycles. Those fungal cells entrapped in carrageenan were more productive than the agarose-immobilized cells during the initial cycle while the reverse was true during the second production cycle. The agarose-entrapped cells synthesized polysaccharide with a higher pullulan content than did the carrageenan-immobilized cells. Fungal cells entrapped in carrageenan demonstrated a lower degree of leakage than did those entrapped in agarose.