Effect of Triton X-100 on Compactin Production from Penicillium citrinum

Glucose alone was found to be the most effective carbon source for producing compactin. An initial glucose concentration of 40 g/L gave the highest compactin concentration of 250mg/L. Among the various nitrogen sources, when 5g/L of pharmamedia and soybean meal as the sole nitrogen source were used, respectively, the compactin concentration was higher than 250mg/L. Especially, in the case of the mixture of 6 g/L of pharmamedia and 8 g/L of soybean meal, the compactin concentration was 400mg/L. To select the best surfactant for effective compactin production, various surfactants were investigated. When Triton X-100 was used, the maximum compactin concentration was 445mg/L. With the initial concentration ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 g/L, the compactin concentration was the highest at 465-450mg/L. The cell concentration was similar to that of the control without the addition of Triton X-100. On the other hand, when the above 4.0 g/L of Triton X-100 were used, the cell concentration decreased. Using the based results, the continuous fed-batch cultures by adding the Triton X-100 were carried out for 10 days in an air-lift bioreactor. When 1.5 g/L of Triton X-100 was added to the culture broth at 0, 4, and 8 days of culture, respectively, the compactin production was increased with the increase of culture time. The maximum compactin concentration after 10days of culture was 1,200mg/L, which was about 2.0-fold higher than that of the control without the addition of Triton X-100.