The effect of rapeseed oil uptake on the production of erythromycin and triketide lactone by Saccharopolyspora erythraea

Saccharopolyspora erythraea was grown in an oil-based process medium at two different laboratory scales. The initial concentration of rapeseed oil in the medium was shown not to affect the growth, while addition of oil signif icantly increased erythromycin A production. Increasing the agitation speed at the 2 L scale increased the growth of the culture and the production of erythromycin A but had little effect on the level of oil remaining in the fermentation. Maximum oil utilization of 50% (w/w) was obtained in both 2 a nd 7 L cultures. Gas chromatography analysis of the process medium showed t hat there was no accumulation of fatty acids and glycerides during the ferm entations. The specific oil utilization by the recombinant strain of S. ery thraea was significantly lower compared to the wild-type strain grown at th e same scale and initial oil concentration; the recombinant strain also pro duced lower concentrations of the novel polyketide, triketide lactone.