Increases in alginate production and transcription levels of alginate lyase (alyA1) by control of the oxygen transfer rate in Azotobacter vinelandii cultures under diazotrophic conditions

BACKGROUND: Alginates are polysaccharides used in a wide range of industrial applications, with their functional properties depending on their molecular weight. In this study, alginate production and the expression of genes involved in polymerization and depolymerization in batch cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii were evaluated under controlled and noncontrolled oxygen transfer rate (OTR) conditions. RESULTS: Using an oxygen transfer rate (OTR) control system, a constant OTR (20.3 ± 1.3 mmol L 1 h 1 ) was maintained during cell growth and stationary phases. In cultures subjected to a controlled OTR, alginate concentrations were higher (5.5 ± 0.2 g L 1 ) than in cultures under noncontrolled OTR. The molecular weight of alginate decreased from 475 to 325 kDa at the beginning of the growth phase and remained constant until the end of the cultivation period. The expression level of alyA1, which encodes an alginate lyase, was more affected by OTR control than those of other genes involved in alginate biosynthesis. The decrease in alginate molecular weight can be explained by a higher relative expression level of alyA1 under the controlled OTR condition. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the first time that alginate production and alginate lyase (alyA1) expression levels have been evaluated in A. vinelandii cultures subjected to a controlled OTR. The results show that automatic control of OTR may be a suitable strategy for improving alginate production while maintaining a constant molecular weight.

Enhancement of Lycopene Production by Blakeslea trispora Using Oxygen-vectors and Surface Active Agents / 微生物学通报

Addition of oxygen-vectors(n-dodecane,n-hexane,hydrogen peroxide) to fermentation medium was recognized as a method of enhancing oxygen transfer and promoting lycopene yield by Blakeslea trispora fermentation.Higher lycopene production was observed in shake flask containing 1%(v/v) n-hexane,n-dodecane and 150 L/100mL hydrogen peroxide as compared to shake flasks without oxygen-vectors.The result of assays indicated that when oxygen-vectors (n-dodecane,n-hexane,1%,v/v) and hydrogen peroxide(50 L/100mL) were added to the 0-day and 1-day old culture of Blakeslea trispora the production of lycopene were 25.32%,72.84% and 40.35% higher than those without oxygen-vectors addition respectively.The production of lycopene increased 114.83% when n-dodecane and surface active agents were used at the same time.