Production of l-Methionine-enriched cells of a mutant derived from a methylotrophic yeast, Candida boidinii

Abstract

l-Methionine-enriched cells production of an ethionine-resistant mutant of Candida boidinii no. 2201 was greatly improved by the control of pH and by feeding of methanol and other medium components during cultivation in a jar fermentor. Under the optimal conditions, 38.5 g (as dry weight)_of cells abd 282 mg of pool methionine (intracellular pool of free l-methionine) per l of culture broth were obtained after 11 d of cultivation.

The culture conditions for production of l-methionine-enriched cells in continuous culture were investigated. With limited methanol in continuous cultivation, pool methionine productivity reached a maximum value of 1.14 mg·l⁻¹·h⁻¹ at a dilution rate of 0.05·h⁻¹. During methanol-limited growth in continuous cultivation, the pool methionine content of the mutant was about 20–35% higher than that in batch cultivation.