Isolation and culture characterization of a new polyvinyl alcohol-degrading strain: Penicillium sp. WSH02-21

摘要

A fungal strain able to grow on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as sole carbon source was isolated from activated sludge of a textile factory. Morphological characteristics showed that this strain belonged to Penicillium sp., and, to our knowledge, this is the first report of PVA degradation by a strain of Penicillum sp. When 0.5% PVA was used as the carbon source in culture medium, it could be completely degraded after 12 days. This strain was found to produce and secrete an inducible PVA-degrading enzyme. High PVA concentration and oxygen transfer were favourable for PVA-degrading enzyme synthesis by Penicillium sp. cultured in shake-flasks. Moreover, Penicillum sp. cultured in PVA medium may spontaneously produce more catalase to decompose H2O2, a product of PVA oxidation by PVA oxidase, for protection of the cells from H2O2 damage.