High-level production of erythritol by mutants of osmophilic Moniliella sp

• Published in: Process biochemistry (1991) 2010-06, Vol.45 (6), p.973-979
• Main Authors: Lin, Shie-Jea, Wen, Chiou-Yen, Wang, Pei-Ming, Huang, Jang-Cheng, Wei, Chi-Liang, Chang, Jin-Wei, Chu, Wen-Shen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breeding; Erythritol; Fermentation; Moniliella sp; Mutant; Osmophilic
• ISSN: 1359-5113; 1873-3298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2010.03.003

An erythritol-producing osmophilic yeast-like fungus, Moniliella sp. 440, was isolated from honey and then successively mutated with iterative rounds of N-methyl- N′-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) treatment and selection. Six generations of mutants, named N12115-6, N21105-6, N31074-3, N42208-2, N53199-9, and N61188-12, were selected for and produced erythritol at 151.0, 157.2, 177.8, 191.4, 196.6, and 237.8 g/L, respectively, while the wild type strain produced 113.0 g/L erythritol in media containing 40% glucose and 1% yeast extract. The mutant cells were found to have a short rod-like shape, while the wild type cells have a long rod-like shape. The most efficient erythritol producer, N61188-12, assimilated myo-inositol and weakly assimilated erythritol. However, the wild type strain did not assimilate myo-inositol and assimilated erythritol well. In 250-L and 2000-L pilot-scale fermentors, the erythritol production by N61188-12 was 151.4 g/L and 152.4 g/L, respectively. A simple fed-batch culture of strain N61188-12 in a 2000-L fermentor increased erythritol production to 189.4 g/L after 10 days fermentation.