BioChem - DOS

Influence of carbon and nitrogen concentration on itaconic acid production by the smut fungus Ustilago maydis

Engineering in life sciences

Maassen, Nicole; Panakova, Monika; Wierckx, Nick; Geiser, Elena; Zimmermann, Martin; Bö lker, Michael; Klinner, Ulrich; Blank, Lars Mathias

<P>Itaconic acid is a valuable platform compound for the production of bio&#8208;based polymers, chemicals, and fuels. <I>Ustilago maydis</I> is a promising host for the production of itaconic acid from biomass&#8208;derived substrates due to its unicellular growth pattern and its potential to utilize biomass&#8208;derived sugar monomers and polymers. The potential of <I>U. maydis</I> for industrial itaconate production was assessed in pH&#8208;controlled batch fermentations with varying medium compositions. Using 200 g/L glucose and 75 mM ammonium, 44.5 g/L of itaconate was produced at a maximum rate of 0.74 g L<SUP>&minus;1</SUP> h<SUP>&minus;1</SUP>. By decreasing the substrate concentrations to 50 g/L glucose and 30 mM ammonium, a yield of 0.34 g/g (47 mol%) could be achieved. Itaconate production from xylose was also feasible. These results indicate that high itaconic acid titers can be achieved with <I>U. maydis</I>. However, further optimization of the biocatalyst itself through metabolic engineering is still needed in order to achieve an economically feasible process, which can be used to advance the development of a bio&#8208;based economy.</P>

2014

1618-0240

1618-2863

14

2

pp.129-134

10.1002/elsc.201300043

http://click.ndsl.kr/servlet/OpenAPIDetailView?keyValue=05787966&target=NART&cn=NART68880443

Aspergillus terreus; Itaconate; Itaconic acid; Medium optimization; Ustilago maydis