The fed-batch production of mannosylerythritol lipids by Ustilago maydis DSM 4500 from hydrophilic carbon sources

• Published in: Bioprocess and biosystems engineering 2024-12, Vol.47 (12), p.2043-2054
• Main Authors: Valkenburg, André D., Teke, George M., Pott, Robert W. M., van Rensburg, Eugéne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batch culture; Batch production; bioprocessing; Biosurfactants; Biotechnology; Carbon; Carbon sources; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; class; economic performance; Eczema; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fed batch; Food Science; glucose; Glycolipids; Hydrophilicity; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Lipids; Metabolites; Micronutrients; Oils & fats; Research Paper; skin (animal); Skin diseases; Substrates; Surfactants; Ustilago maydis; Ustilago zeae; Vegetable oils; Vegetables; Yeasts
• ISSN: 1615-7591; 1615-7605; 1615-7605
• DOI: 10.1007/s00449-024-03084-3

Glycolipids are a class of widely studied biosurfactants with excellent applicability in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. This class of biosurfactants includes mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which have gained particular interest due to their moisturizing and healing activity for dry and damaged human skin, arising from conditions such as eczema. Traditionally, MELs have been produced by growing certain basidiomycetous yeasts on vegetable oils. However, oils are a comparatively expensive substrate, which negatively affects the economic performance of MEL production. In addition to this, vegetable oils significantly complicate the downstream processing required to produce a product with the required purity for most applications. To address these challenges, this study investigated MEL-A production exclusively from hydrophilic carbon sources by Ustilago maydis DSM 4500. By implementing a fed-batch production strategy, maximum MEL-A concentration of 0.87 g/L was achieved from glucose exclusively. Also, adding micronutrients (such as MnSO 4 ) to MEL-A production showed a 24.1% increase in the product titer, implying other metabolites are formed, favoring MEL production.