The esterases of Mortierella ramanniana in relation to taxonomy.

The esterase profiles of 9 strains of Mortierella ramanniana grown on glucose and olive-oil media were determined by starch-gel electrophoresis. The enzymes produced on the oil medium were in most instances produced also on the glucose medium, but on the latter some additional esterase components were produced. The esterase patterns of the different strains varied widely; only one esterase was common to all strains grown on glucose medium, and a second esterase was common to all grown on the olive-oil medium. The data available do not suggest that esterase profiles are of taxonomic significance for these fungi.