MUTANT BACTERIAL STRAIN OF GENUS SPHINGOMONAS DEFICIENT IN PRODUCTION OF POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE AND PROCESS OF CLARIFICATION OF SPHINGAN

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clarified high-acyl gellan preparation.SOLUTION: The invention relates to mutant strains of the genus Sphingomonas have a mutation at least one gene encoding a protein required in polyhydroxybutyrate ("PHB") synthesis that allows the mutant strains to produce PHB-deficient sphingans. The invention is also directed to a process for preparing a clarified sphingan solution comprising heating aqueous sphingan solution, in particular PHB-deficient sphingan solution, to a clarification temperature of about 30°C to about 70°C, and treating the solution with a clarification agent and enzymes. In addition, the invention is directed to a food or industrial product comprising a PHB-deficient and/or clarified sphingan. One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a clarified, PHB-deficient high-acyl gellan and the processes of making thereof.