Fermentation studies with Streptomyces griseus. I. Carbohydrate sources for the production of protease and streptomycin

Regulation of exocellular proteases in Neurospora crassa: metabolic requirements of the process

To induce exocellular proteolytic enzyme from carbon-starved exponential-phase cells of Neurospora crassa, both a protein substrate and an activating protease of certain specific properties must be present at the same time. The cells must be capable of protein synthesis, since cycloheximide inhibits the process, but cell growth, as determined by increase in cell mass, does not appear to be required. Both soluble (bovine serum albumin, myoglobin) and insoluble protein substrates (collagen, corn zein) will affect protease induction, although certain soluble, globular proteins (egg white globulin, bovine gamma globulin) will not. In most cases, rates of protease induction are proportional to protein concentration, regardless of the nature of the inducing protein. All activating proteases capable of affecting induction in a manner similar to that of N. crassa exocellular protease were of bacterial origin and were exoproteases. Mammalian proteases and peptidases had little or no effect on the induction process.

Production of thermostable alkaline proteases by thermophilic Streptomyces

Conditions for the production of thermostable proteases (alkaline proteinase and carboxypeptidase) by a thermophilic streptomycete (Streptomyces rectus var. proteolyticus) were investigated in 20-liter volumes. Proteinase production was affected by the concentration of defatted soybean powder, its optimum being 1.2% in medium containing 2.0% soluble starch. Relatively high concentration of phosphate (0.3 to 0.4% K(2)HPO(4)) was needed for the maximum enzyme production. A large inoculum size (5 to 10%) was favorable, but the inoculum age did not significantly influence the production. The yield increase of 20 to 30% was obtained by feeding of medium during fermentation. The optimal temperature for proteinase production was 50 C, at which the maximal rate of production was 66.2 proteinase units per ml per hr, whereas at 40 C it was 9.0. Production at 50 C reached the maximum within 12 to 16 hr. The optimal agitation rate was different for the production of proteinase and carboxypeptidase, 400 rev/min for the former and 500 rev/min for the latter. The optimal aeration for proteinase production was 20 to 30 liters/min at 400 rev/min, whereas carboxypeptidase production was not markedly affected by aeration rate. The possibility that carboxypeptidase production was correlated with the shear of mycelium was discussed.

Fermentation studies with Streptomyces griseus. II. Synthetic media for the production of streptomycin

Synthetic media for streptomycin fermentation were studied to determine which media gave highest yields of streptomycin. The effect of salts on streptomycin production by Streptomyces griseus was examined, and a suitable combination of salts was established in a glucose-casein medium. This medium yielded 3,000 mug/ml of the antibiotic with an inoculum of 1.6%. Substitution of amino acids for casein was examined. Of 17 amino acids tested, best results were obtaind with sodium aspartate. Substitution of ammonium salts was tried, and an excellent streptomycin yield was obtained with a medium containing ammonium citrate.