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Production and optimization of poly-γ-glutamic acid by Bacillus subtilis BL53 isolated from the Amazonian environment

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Abstract

The aims of this research were to screen and characterize a new microbial source of γ-PGA, to optimize aspects of culture conditions and medium composition using central composite design and response surface methodologies. The influence of bioreactor stirring rates on the production of γ-PGA was also investigated and the oxygen volumetric mass transfer coefficients (k La) were established. The most productive strain was identified by 16S rDNA analysis as Bacillus subtilis, and its γ-PGA production in rotatory shaker was threefold increased under optimized conditions (37 °C, pH 6.9, and 1.22 mM Zn2+), compared to conventional medium. In bioreactor, the γ-PGA production was further increased, reaching 17 g l−1, 70 % higher than shaker cultures. γ-PGA production showed high dependency on oxygen transfer. At k La of 210 h−1, the cultivation time could be reduced to 48 h, about 50 % of the time required for operations at k La 55 h−1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Engineering, Polytechnic School, Vale do Rio dos Sinos University, Av. Unisinos, 950, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022-000, Brazil

    Suse Botelho da Silva

  2. Feevale University, RS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil

    Vlademir Vicente Cantarelli

  3. Food Science and Technology Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, PO Box 15090, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil

    Marco Antonio Záchia Ayub

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  1. Suse Botelho da Silva
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  2. Vlademir Vicente Cantarelli
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  3. Marco Antonio Záchia Ayub
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Correspondence to Marco Antonio Záchia Ayub.

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da Silva, S.B., Cantarelli, V.V. & Ayub, M.A.Z. Production and optimization of poly-γ-glutamic acid by Bacillus subtilis BL53 isolated from the Amazonian environment. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 37, 469–479 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-013-1016-1

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