Stoffwechselprodukte von Mikroorganismen

Rhodotorulic acid production by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa produces the siderophore rhodotorulic acid (RA) when grown in iron-limited conditions. R. mucilaginosa grew at rates between 0.10 and 0.19 h(-1) in iron-restricted conditions, depending on the carbon source, and at 0.23 h(-1) in iron-sufficient conditions. In bioreactors inoculated with iron-starved pre-cultures, initial specific growth rates in batch culture were dependent on the iron concentration. The critical dilution rate (Dcrit, at which steady state cultures cannot be sustained) in continuous cultures was also dependent on the iron concentration and was lower than mu(max) in batch culture. Sucrose was the best carbon source for RA production [287+/-11 micromol (g biomass)(-1)] and production could be further increased by supplementing the medium with the precursors acetate [460+/-13 micromol (g biomass)(-1)], ornithine [376+/-6 micromol (g biomass)(-1)], or both [539+/-15 micromol (g biomass)(-1)]. Citric acid was an effective suppresser of RA production. RA was produced in a growth rate dependent manner and was optimally produced at pH 6.5.

[Metabolic products of microorganisms. 166. Optimization of the desferri-ferricrocin production by Aspergillus viridi-nutans Ducker & Thrower (author's transl)]

At low iron(III)-concentrations (less than 10(-5) M) the fungus Aspergillus viridi-nutans Ducker & Thrower excretes desferri-ferricrocin as the main sideramine into the culture medium. While this compound accounts for 95% of the sideramines produced, small amounts of additional sideramines may also be detected. In a search for an inexpensive nutrient medium for optimum production of desferri-ferricrocin, experiments using shake flasks with good aeration were undertaken initially. The best medium conditions were then employed in a fermentor system. In a 20-1 fermentor with "intensor" system, it was shown that at certain growth rates there was an inverse correlation between rate of growth and rate of sideramine production. A defined nutrient medium of glucose plus acetate as carbon sources, and urea or ammonium acetate as nitrogen sources was used. Two different feeding regimens were used in response to changes of pH or to changes of partial pressure of oxygen in the submerged culture: acetic acid/urea or acetic acid/ammonium acetate additions regulated these conditions. The rate of sideramine production under such feeding achieved a maximum of 20 mg 1(-1) h-1 over a period of several days.

[Metabolic products of microorganisms. 150. Ferricrocin, triacetylfusigen and other sideramines from fungi of the genus Aspergillus, group Fumigatus (author's transl)]

The sideramines of 14 species of the genus Aspergillus, group Fumigatus, were isolated and analyzed. Ferricrocin was identified in 11 extracts, ferrichrome in 2 others. A lipophilic sideramine produced by 4 species was identified as triacetylfusigen, another minor component as triacetylfusigen B. Six species produced an alanine-containing sideramine, which may be identical with ferrichrom C.