Protoplast fusion technology for improved production of coenzyme Q10 using Paracoccus denitrificans ATCC 19367 mutant strains

Induced mutants generated from Paracoccus denitrificans ATCC 19367 having antibiotic resistant markers, were used as parent strains to carry out protoplast fusion. The generated fusants were screened using standardized protocol for CoQ10 production. Among the generated fusants, one fusant namely PF-P1 showed 1.73 folds enhancements in specific CoQ10 content than wild type strain. Fusant PF-P1 was characterized by biochemical and molecular approaches where it showed differences than wild type strain. The fusant was further identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis that showed eight nucleotide base pair mutation on conserved region and 99% homology with Paracoccus denitrificans strains.