RESUMO
Dissolved oxygen (DO) and shear stress have pronounced effects on hyaluronic acid (HA) production, yet various views persist about their effect on the molecular weight of HA. Accordingly, this study investigated the effects of DO and shear stress during HA fermentation. The results showed that both cell growth and HA synthesis were suppressed under anaerobic conditions, and the HA molecular mass was only (1.22+/-0.02) x 106 Da. Under aerobic conditions, although the DO level produced no change in the biomass or HA yield, a high DO level favored the HA molecular mass, which reached a maximum value of (2.19+/- 0.05) x 106 Da at 50% DO. Furthermore, a high shear stress delayed the rate of HA synthesis and decreased the HA molecular weight, yet had no clear effect on the HA yield. Therefore, a high DO concentration and mild shear environment would appear to be essential to enhance the HA molecular weight.
Assuntos
Ácido Hialurônico/química , Ácido Hialurônico/metabolismo , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Resistência ao Cisalhamento , Streptococcus equi/metabolismo , Biomassa , Reatores Biológicos , Fermentação , Peso Molecular , Streptococcus equi/química , Streptococcus equi/ultraestrutura , ViscosidadeRESUMO
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a commercially valuable medical biopolymer increasingly produced through microbial fermentation. Viscosity limits product yield and the focus of research and development has been on improving the key quality parameters, purity and molecular weight. Traditional strain and process optimisation has yielded significant improvements, but appears to have reached a limit. Metabolic engineering is providing new opportunities and HA produced in a heterologous host is about to enter the market. In order to realise the full potential of metabolic engineering, however, greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying chain termination is required.