An efficient multi-stage fermentation strategy for the production of microbial oil rich in arachidonic acid in Mortierella alpina

• Published in: Bioresources and bioprocessing Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Authors: Wu, Wen-Jia, Zhang, Ai-Hui, Peng, Chao, Ren, Lu-Jing, Song, Ping, Yu, Ya-Dong, Huang, He, Ji, Xiao-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aeration; Arachidonic acid; Batch culture; Biochemical Engineering; Biosynthesis; Cell culture; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cultivation; Dissolved oxygen; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fed-batch culture; Fermentation; Fungi; Industrial and Production Engineering; Mass production; Microorganisms; Morphology; Mortierella alpina; Oxygen transfer; Strategy; Aeration; Agitation; Multi-stage fermentation; Arachidonic acid; Morphology; Mortierella alpina
• ISSN: 2197-4365; 2197-4365
• DOI: 10.1186/s40643-017-0138-8

Background Fungal morphology and aeration play a significant role in the growth process of Mortierella alpina . The production of microbial oil rich in arachidonic acid (ARA) in M. alpina was enhanced by using a multi-stage fermentation strategy which combined fed-batch culture with precise control of aeration and agitation rates at proper times. Results The fermentation period was divided into four stages according to the cultivation characteristics of M. alpina . The dissolved oxygen concentration was well suited for ARA biosynthesis. Moreover, the ultimate dry cell weight (DCW), lipid, and ARA yields obtained using this strategy reached 41.4, 22.2, 13.5 g/L, respectively. The respective values represent 14.8, 25.8, and 7.8% improvements over traditional fed-batch fermentation processes. Conclusions This strategy provides promising control insights for the mass production of ARA-rich oil on an industrial scale. Pellet-like fungal morphology was transformed into rice-shaped particles which were beneficial for oxygen transfer and thus highly suitable for biomass accumulation.