Kinetics of microbial product formation and its consequences for the optimization of fermentation processes.

Different types of product formation kinetics are discussed with respect to their significance for fermentation process economics. Microbial products belonging to various classes are formed in a growth-coupled manner. It is often found that the specific rate of product formation increases with the specific growth rate, approaching a maximum at higher growth rates. It is illustrated that for such types of relationship between the product formation rate and the growth rate process conditions are optimal when the specific rate of product formation is about half-maximal.

Application of a metabolic balancing technique to the analysis of microbial fermentation data.

A general method for the development of fermentation models, based on elemental and metabolic balances, is illustrated with three examples from the literature. Physiological parameters such as the (maximal) yield on ATP, the energetic maintenance coefficient, the P/O ratio and others are estimated by fitting model equations to experimental data. Further, phenomenological relations concerning kinetics of product formation and limiting enzyme activities are assessed. The results are compared with the conclusions of the original articles, and differences due to the application of improved models are discussed.

The use of stoichiometric relations for the description and analysis of microbial cultures.

A general method is described, which enables the derivation of predictive fermentation equations for any microbiological process. The method combines the well-known achievements of the elemental balance approach with microscopic, metabolic balances and biochemical restrictions, using the key intermediates concept. Special attention is paid to the distinction between independent and dependent flow variables of a system. The method is fully illustrated for the very simple example of heterotrophic growth on a single substrate without product formation. Other examples include growth on mixed substrates and the description of catabolic and anabolic product formation.

Modeling of microbial substrate conversion, growth and product formation in a recycling fermentor.

Paracoccus denitrificans and Bacillus licheniformis were grown in a carbon- and energy source-limited recycling fermentor with 100% biomass feedback. Experimental data for biomass accumulation and product formation as well as rates of carbon dioxide evolution and oxygen consumption were used in a parameter optimization procedure. This procedure was applied on a model which describes biomass growth as a linear function of the substrate consumption rate and the rate of product formation as a linear function of the biomass growth rate. The fitting procedure yielded two growth domains for P. denitrificans. In the first domain the values for the maximal growth yield and the maintenance coefficient were identical to those found in a series of chemostat experiments. The second domain could be described best with linear biomass increase, which is equal to a constant growth yield. Experimental data of a protease producing B. licheniformis also yielded two growth domains via the fitting procedure. Again, in the first domain, maximal growth yield and maintenance requirements were not significantly different from those derived from a series of chemostat experiments. Domain 2 behaviour was different from that observed with P. denitrificans. Product formation halts and more glucose becomes available for biomass formation, and consequently the specific growth rate increases in the shift from domain 1 to 2. It is concluded that for many industrial production processes, it is important to select organisms on the basis of a low maintenance coefficient and a high basic production of the desired product. It seems less important that the maximal production becomes optimized, which is the basis of most selection procedures.

Application of multipulse NMR to observe 13C-labeled metabolites in biological systems.

Limitations in resolution and sensitivity of 13C NMR spectroscopy have reduced the information obtainable from intact biological systems. With the aim of increasing the information from in vivo 13C NMR two multipulse NMR techniques, the DEPT pulse sequence and the gated spin-echo sequence, were used to obtain edited 13C NMR spectra from different 13C-labeled mammalian tissues. This allowed the separation of the 13C NMR signals from the tissues into subspectra containing either CH, CH2, or CH3 signals, thereby increasing the information obtainable from these spectra. Comparing the two techniques, the DEPT sequence gives more accurate editing than the gated spin-echo sequence but suffers from the difficulty of determining 1H pulse angles in vivo.

A method for in situ characterization of b- and c-type cytochromes in Escherichia coli and in complex III from beef heart mitochondria by combined spectrum deconvolution and potentiometric analysis.

An analytical technique for the in situ characterization of b- and c-type cytochromes has been developed. From evaluation of the results of potentiometric measurements and spectrum deconvolutions, it was concluded that an integrated best-fit analysis of potentiometric and spectral data gave the most reliable results. In the total cytochrome b content of cytoplasmic membranes from aerobically grown Escherichia coli, four major components are distinguished with alpha-band maxima at 77 K of 555.7, 556.7, 558.6 and 563.5 nm, and midpoint potentials at pH 7.0 of 46, 174, -75 and 187 mV, respectively. In addition, two very small contributions to the alpha-band spectrum at 547.0 and 560.2 nm, with midpoint potentials of 71 and 169 mV, respectively, have been distinguished. On the basis of their spectral properties they should be designated as a cytochrome c and a cytochrome b, respectively. In Complex III, isolated from beef heart mitochondria, five cytochromes are distinguished: cytochrome c1 (lambda m (25 degrees C) = 553.5 nm; E'0 = 238 mV) and four cytochromes b (lambda m (25 degrees C) = 558.6, 561.2, 562.1, 566.1 nm and E'0 = -83, 26, 85, -60 mV).

The electron transport chain of Rhizobium trifolii.

The presence of a branched respiratory chain in Rhizobium trifolii grown in batch culture on a defined medium was demonstrated. The branches of the respiratory chain differ in sensitivity to inhibition by cyanide and in affinity for oxygen. The branching point is localized at cytochrome b-555. Electron flow from cytochrome b-555 via cytochrome c-549 and cytochrome a-597 towards oxygen has a relatively low affinity for oxygen and is sensitive to inhibition by cyanide. The second terminal oxidase is cytochrome b-561, which is directly linked to cytochrome b-555. This pathway has a higher affinity for oxygen. The pathway via cytochrome a-597 is more efficient in energy conservation than the pathway via cytochrome b-561, which lacks site III of oxidative phosphorylation.

Growth yields, polysaccharide production and energy conservation in chemostat cultures of Rhizobium trifolii.

Rhizobium trifolii was grown in a defined medium in chemostat cultures. Extracellular polysaccharide production was found in carbon-sufficient as well as in carbon-limited cultures. Extracellular polysaccharide production in carbon-limited cultures was strongly dependent on the growth rate. In mannitol-limited cultures, asparagine was always totally depleted from the culture medium. Only when the asparagine supply was not sufficient to meet the nitrogen need of the culture, ammonia assimilation took place. Excess organic nitrogen was excreted as ammonia. Whether ammonia assimilation or ammonia excretion took place was also dependent on the growth rate. Respiration-coupled proton translocation measurements showed the presence of three energy conserving sites in an electron transport chain which is branched. Assuming a H+/P ratio of 4, a P/O ratio of 2.33 was found. Growth yield calculations indicated a P/O ratio of approximately 2. Sulphate limitation in the chemostat culture resulted in a decrease in the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation and in a less stringent coupling between growth and energy yielding processes.