MUTANT BACTERIAL STRAINS OF THE GENUS SPHINGONOMAS DEFICIENT IN PRODUCTION OF POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE AND PROCESS OF CLARIFICATION OF SPHINGANS

摘要

The invention relates to mutant strains of the genus iSphingomonas/i which have a mutation in at least one gene encoding a protein involved 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 DEG C to about 70 DEG 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.