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The acetylation degree of alginates in Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC9046 is determined by dissolved oxygen and specific growth rate: studies in glucose-limited chemostat cultivations

  • Fermentation, Cell Culture and Bioengineering
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Alginates are polysaccharides that may be used as viscosifiers and gel or film-forming agents with a great diversity of applications. The alginates produced by bacteria such as Azotobacter vinelandii are acetylated. The presence of acetyl groups in this type of alginate increases its solubility, viscosity, and swelling capability. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in glucose-limited chemostat cultivations of A. vinelandii ATCC9046, the influence of dissolved oxygen tension (DO) and specific growth rate (μ) on the degree of acetylation of alginates produced by this bacterium. In glucose-limited chemostat cultivations, the degree of alginate acetylation was evaluated under two conditions of DO (1 and 9 %) and for a range of specific growth rates (0.02–0.15 h−1). In addition, the alginate yields and PHB production were evaluated. High DO in the culture resulted in a high degree of alginate acetylation, reaching a maximum acetylation degree of 6.88 % at 9 % DO. In contrast, the increment of μ had a negative effect on the production and acetylation of the polymer. It was found that at high DO (9 %) and low μ, there was a reduction of the respiration rate, and the PHB accumulation was negligible, suggesting that the flux of acetyl-CoA (the acetyl donor) was diverted to alginate acetylation.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support of DGAPA-UNAM (grant IN110310-3). PhD grant of Tania Castillo from CONACYT. The authors acknowledge the helpful discussions with Dr. Cinthia Núñez and Dr. Álvaro Lara.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Post. 510-3 Cuernavaca, 62250, Morelos, Mexico

    Tania Castillo, Enrique Galindo & Carlos F. Peña

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  1. Tania Castillo
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  2. Enrique Galindo
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  3. Carlos F. Peña
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Correspondence to Carlos F. Peña.

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Castillo, T., Galindo, E. & Peña, C.F. The acetylation degree of alginates in Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC9046 is determined by dissolved oxygen and specific growth rate: studies in glucose-limited chemostat cultivations. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 40, 715–723 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-013-1274-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-013-1274-6

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