Improved industrial enzymes in unlimited quantity |
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Phytase - economically viable process for better environment
Phosphorus is an essential element for the growth and viability of animals. Plants contain phosphorus bound in the form of phytin. Ruminants contain in their stomach an enzyme called phytase which can liberate phosphates from phytin. However, pigs and chickens lack this enzyme, so phosphorous is added to pig and chicken feed. When phosphorous-rich manure is released into the environment this causes overfertilization problems. A particular strain of the fungus Aspergillus niger is capable of producing phytase, but the process is not viable economically. The company DSM Food Specialties (former Gist-brocades b.v.) therefore inserted the gene coding for this enzyme into another strain of Aspergillus niger known for its high productivity of industrial enzymes. Addition of the recombinant phytase produced by this fungus to animal feed reduces the addition of extra phosphorus by 20% and the release of phosphate through manure by 25-30%, contributing positively to a cleaner environment.