Real time optimization of fed-batch culture of recombinant yeast

A real time optimization algorithm for fed-batch cultures of recombinant yeast to determine the optimal substrate feed rate profile has been developed. Its development involved four key steps: (1) development of reliable adaptive model. (2) development of optimization algorithm. (3) design of on-line model update algorithm to be incorporated into the optimization algorithm and (4) experimental validation. A recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae producing human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) was chosen as the model strain. It was found to be very successful in maintaining cell growth and galactose consumption at leigh levels, thus resulting in significant improvements in the productivity (up to 2.1 times) and intact hPTH concentration (up to 1.5 times) compared with the case of an intermittent glucose and galactose, or galactose feeding.