Effect of Tween 80 on the production of curdlan by Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 31749.

This study aims to investigate the effects of Tween 80 on curdlan production, cell growth, and glucosyltransferase activity. The addition of Tween 80 to the culture medium increased curdlan production. However, curdlan production did not increase further when excessive Tween 80 (>0.3% Tween 80) was added to the culture medium. The addition of Tween 80 to the culture medium did not affect cell growth. The glucosyltransferase activity involved in the curdlan synthesis increased with the increase of Tween 80 concentration. The glucosyltransferase activity did not increase further when excessive Tween 80 (>0.3% Tween 80) was added to the culture medium. Maximum curdlan was observed at day 5 and then levelled off. The biomass continued to increase until the end of the experimental period (6d). Maximum glucosyltransferase activity was also observed at day 5 and decreased thereafter. The results indicate that the enhanced curdlan production by Tween 80 is highly correlated with glucosyltransferase activity.