Application of oxygen vectors to Claviceps purpurea cultivation

The application of a two-phase fermentation system for the production of er got peptide alkaloids by Claviceps purpurea is described. Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are used as oxygen vectors in Claviceps fermentation for the first ti me. In shake-flask cultivations, the inclusion of PFC in the medium brings about a five-fold increase in the total alkaloid production and a six-fold increase in the pharmaceutically important component, ergotamine. This rise cannot be correlated with the concentration of the added PFC and it is tho ught that the enhancement is due to a combination of factors, including the influence of PFC. Other oxygen vectors, such as several hydrocarbons, prov e to be poor oxygen carriers in our study. Cultivations with PFC in a biore actor are reproducible, the maximum total alkaloid and ergotamine productio n being attained on the 11th and 9th days, respectively. The relatively low er increase in the total alkaloid production in the bioreactor as compared to the shake-flasks is attributed to the unequal oxygen avail ability in th e reactor. Processes with PFC offer the operational advantage of a five-fol d reduction in aeration rate.