Efficiency of the cyclic batch antibiotic fermentation

Computing the various pathways of penicillin synthesis and their molar yields

More than 80 years after its discovery, penicillin is still a widely used and commercially highly important antibiotic. Here, we analyse the metabolic network of penicillin synthesis in Penicillium chrysogenum based on the concept of elementary flux modes. In particular, we consider the synthesis of the invariant molecular core of the various subtypes of penicillin and the two major ways of incorporating sulfur: transsulfuration and direct sulfhydrylation. 66 elementary modes producing this invariant core are obtained. These show four different yields with respect to glucose, notably ½, 2/5, 1/3, and 2/7, with the highest yield of ½ occurring only when direct sulfhydrylation is used and α-aminoadipate is completely recycled. In the case of no recycling of this intermediate, we find the maximum yield to be 2/7. We compare these values with earlier literature values. Our analysis provides a systematic overview of the redundancy in penicillin synthesis and a detailed insight into the corresponding routes. Moreover, we derive suggestions for potential knockouts that could increase the average yield.

Mathematical modeling of citric acid production by repeated batch culture

A mathematical model has been created for the process of citric acid biosynthesis by yeast (mutant strain Yarrowia lipolytica) cultivated by the repeated batch (RB) method on ethanol under conditions of nitrogen limitation. The model accounts for cell growth as a function of nitrogen concentration in the culture liquid; nitrogen uptake by growing cells; citric acid production; pH control in the fermentor by means of NaOH addition; and changes in system volume. The model represents a system of five nonlinear differential equations. Experimental measurements of cell concentration, citric acid concentration, and cultivation broth volume were used with the least squares method to determine the values of eight model parameters. The parameter values obtained were consistent with literature data and general concepts of cell growth and citric acid biosynthesis. The model has been used to predict optimum RB culture conditions.

State-structure models—A base for efficient control of fermentation processes

The imbedding of state-structure models into the framework of structured segregated models is described. A special type of state-structure models based on delay-differential equations is considered. Some results regarding the description of unbalanced growth processes and the development of efficient periodic control strategies are presented.

Model aided dynamic process analysis and optimization for the nourseothricin fermentation

The relation between product formation and growth kinetics could be characterized by two facts: the specific product formation rate depends on the ageing of the population and on the specific growth rate. These relation was formulated and quantified by a mathematical model, which was fitted to experimental data of a representative fermentation run und used to predict an optimal fermentation mode. In the result of this discussion cyclic fed batch fermentation was found to be optimal.