Abstract

REYES-OCAMPO, I.; GONZALEZ-BRAMBILA, M.  and  LOPEZ-ISUNZA, F.. An analysis of the metabolism of Aspergillus niger growing over a solid substrate. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2013, vol.12, n.1, pp.41-56. ISSN 1665-2738.

The metabolism of Aspergillus niger A10 growing on agar plates is analyzed using a structured model that includes the pathways for glicolysis (EMP), pentose-phosphate (PP), the Krebs cycle (TCA), and mycelial biosynthesis; and takes into account enzyme regulation in EMP and TCA either due to low or high levels of citrate and ATP in cytosol. Model predictions are supported by a series of experiments measuring mycelial growth under different glucose concentrations in the agar plates, as well as the use of a two-carbon sources mixtures. Besides measurements of biomass, CO₂ production and O₂ consumption were also continuously measured in the gas-phase of a modified Petri dish. Atkinson's energy charge (1969) concept is used to analyze the growth efficiency under increasing glucose concentration in the agar plates in the range: 25 to 250 gL^-1.

Keywords : Aspergillus niger metabolism; structured model; continuous measurements of CO₂ and O₂; modified Petri dish; biomass growth on solid substrate.