Enhancement of epsilon-polylysine production by Streptomyces albulus strain 410 using pH control.

The enhancement of epsilon-poly-l-lysine (epsilon-PL) production by Streptomyces albulus strain no. 410 (S410) by means of a pH control strategy was investigated. S140 cells produce epsilon-PL at a high concentration if the culture pH remains at about 4.0; however, if it shifts to higher than 4.0, the accumulated epsilon-PL is depolymerized. We therefore suggest a pH control strategy for cell growth and epsilon-PL production aimed at increasing the amount of epsilon-PL produced. The cultivation was divided into two control phases. In phase I, cell growth was accelerated by maintaining the pH at higher than 5.0; in phase II, epsilon-PL production was increased by maintaining the pH at about 4.0. To avoid an increase in the pH during phase II as a result of glucose depletion, the glucose concentration was kept at around 10 g/l by glucose feeding. This control strategy enhanced the production of epsilon-PL to 48.3 g/l from 5.7 g/l in the case of batch culture.