Özer Uyar G. E. (Executive), Uyar B.
Project Supported by Higher Education Institutions, 2014 - 2016
L-(+)-lactic acid is a natural organic acid that is produced by fermentation or chemical synthesis and is used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile, chemical industries. Rhizopus species, which are filamentous fungi, produces lactic acid. Available research in the literature on this field focuses on increasing lactic acid production and altering morphology of R. oryzae. Morphological research are based on modifying growth medium content and physical conditions.
In this project, R. oryzae will be randomly mutated by UV radiation to change genetic sequence of R. oryzae, and the effect of this change on morphology will be examined. Mutants that grow in pellet form will be chosen and compared to wild type organism in terms of lactic acid, ethanol production, biomass formation, glucose consumption. This research, which includes obtaining morphologic change by manipulating genetic sequence, will be the first of its kind in the literature.