AMINO-ACID-COMPOSITION OF SINGLE AND MIXED FUNGAL CULTURES GROWN IN SUGAR-CANE VINASSE

The amino acid composition of pure and mixed cultures of Cryptococcus laurentii and Aspergillus niger grown in sugar cane vinasse medium was evaluated. The amino acid determination was carried out by ion exchange chromatography. The profiles showed that the A. niger biomass presented higher values that those ones in Cr. laurentii biomass for each amino acid. However, the mixed culture of those microorganisms presented even higher contents of the same amino acids. The mixed culture biomass was deficient in cystine in comparison to the FAO reference protein; glutamic acid and proline in comparison to thc casein; and methionine in comparison to the meat, wheat, milk and egg proteins. However, the results obtained indicated that the mixed culture of A. niger and Cr. laurentii may be a good source of protein.