Scientists Develop Altered Phytase Enzyme

July 5, 2006 — 

Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, LA have developed an altered phytase enzyme designed for use in livestock and poultry feeds to reduce phosphorus excretion.

ARS researchers geneticist Edward Mullaney and biochemist Jaffor Ullah modified the phytase enzyme produced by the fungus Aspergillus niger by altering the shape of the protein to promote more activity in the acidic environment in the livestock and poultry gut. Laboratory studies found that pigs fed the modified enzyme exhibited a 13% weight gain during the 5 week study period.

Source:
Agricultural Research, July 2006