Screening Of Some Fungi For Uricolytic Activity

Abstract

Twenty nine species of fungi have been tested for their uricase activity. Only twenty two species of them have the ability to produce uricases. Most of the uncapable fungi to produce uricases belong to Basidiomycotina. The highest production of uricase was achieved by Aspergillus carbonarius, Botrytisfabae and Aspergillus sydowii (0.16, 0.13, and 0.093 units/ml/min.). All the cultivated mushrooms tested have uricase activity. Pleurotus sajor-caju has the highest uricase activity within all the cultivated mushrooms tested. The tested fungi proved that there is no correlation between the uricase production and the mycelial dry weight.