Pilot scale production of pory(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by fed-batch culture of recombinant Escherichia coli

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB/V)], by fed-batch culture of recombinant Escherichia coli harboring a plasmid containing the Alcaligenes latus polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis genes, was examined in two pilot-scale fermentors with air supply only. In a 30 L fermentor having a K_La value of 0.11 s^-1, the final P(3HB/V) concentration and the P(3HB/V) content obtained were 29.6 g/L and 70.1 wt%, respectively, giving a productivity of 1.37 g P(3HB/V)/L-h. In a 300 L fermentor having a K_La of 0.03 s^-1, the P(3HB/V) concentration and the P(3HB/V) content were 20.4 g/L and 69 wt%, respectively, giving a productivity of 1.06 g P(3HB/V)/L-h. These results suggest that economical production of P(3HB/V) is possible by fed-batch culture of recombinant E. coli in a large-scale fermentor having low K_La value.