Statistical Optimization of Medium Components by Response Surface Methodology to Enhance Menaquinone-7 (Vitamin K2) Production by Bacillus subtilis

Optimization of the culture medium to maximize menaquinone-7 (MK-7) production by Bacillus subtilis strain KCTC 12392BP in static culture was carried out using statistical experimental methods, including one factor at a time, fractional factorial design, and response surface methodology (RSM). Maltose (carbon source), tryptone (nitrogen source), and glycerol (activator) were identified as the key medium components for MK-7 synthesis by the fractional factorial design, and were selected for statistical optimization by RSM. The statistical analysis indicated that, in the range that was studied, maltose, tryptone, and glycerol were all critical factors having profound effects on the production of MK-7, with their coefficients for linear and quadratic all significant at the p < 0.05 level. The established model was efficient and feasible, with a determination coefficient ($R^2$) of 0.9419. The predicted concentrations of maltose, tryptone, and glycerol in the optimal medium were determined as 36.78, 62.76, and 58.90 g/l, respectively. In this optimized medium, the maximum yield of MK-7 reached a remarkably high level of $71.95{\pm}1.00{\mu}g/ml$ after 9 days of static fermentation, which further verified the practicability of this optimized strategy.