GB787368A - Production of tetracycline by fermentation - Google Patents

Abstract

Tetracycline is produced by aerobically growing a chlortetracycline-producing species of Streptomyces in an aqueous solution containing a source of carbon and as sole source of organic nitrogen substantially oil-free cottonseed endosperm flour (i.e. contains less than 5 per cent of oil), together with mineral salts but excluding chlorides. The flour is obtained by cooking dehulled cottonseeds, pressing out the oil, collecting by air settling the endosperm and then grinding to a flour. This is not cottonseed meal which is unsuited for use in the media of the invention. The endosperm flour is used in proportions of 0.1 to 10 and preferably 0.5 to 2.0, per cent of the fermentation medium except that it may be used in conjunction with bakers yeast or dechlorinated corn steep liquor. The bakers yeast is used in quantities of 0.1 to 10.0, and preferably 0.5 to 3.0, per cent and the dechlorinated corn steep liquor in quantities of 1.0 to 3.0 per cent. If desired, ammonium salts and nitrates may also be present. The dechlorinated corn steep liquor contains less than 20 p.p.m. and preferably 1 to 2 p.p.m. of chloride ion; 0.5 to 5 per cent of the carbon source is used. Specified sources of carbon are: starch, sucrose, glucose, maltose, dextrose, glycerol, galactose, soybean oil, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, fructose, lactose, inulin, dextrin, mannitol, lard oil, corn oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, sperm oil, palm oil, whale oil, glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monooleate. Fermentation is at 24 DEG to 35 DEG C. under submerged aerobic conditions. Specified micro-organisms are Streptomyces aureofaciens NRRL 2209 and Streptomyces viridifaciens ATCC 11989. The mineral salts are e.g. potassium phosphate, magnesium sulphate, sodium nitrate and exclude chlorides; trace elements are e.g. zinc, manganese and copper. A buffer such as calcium carbonate may also be present. Specification 770,065 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 747,779.