Optimisation of fermentation conditions for the production of a novel GABA-benzodiazepine receptor agonist byAcremonium strictum

Abstract

The production of XR368, a novel GABA-benzodiazepine receptor agonist, has been optimised through manipulation of the medium composition and fermentation conditions leading to an increase in product titre from 1 to 100 mg L⁻¹. Key steps in the optimisation process were the selection of carbon and nitrogen sources, and the optimisation of the C∶N ratio and medium concentration. Furthermore, downstream processing has been facilitated through the introduction of a detergent treatment step which results in the release of over 90% of the desired product into the extracellular environment, avoiding the need to process both biomass and liquor fractions.