Comparative studies of physiological and environmental effects on the production of cyclosporin A in suspended and immobilized cells of Tolypocladium inflatum

Abstract

Process improvement of the production of cyclosporin A (Cy A), a powerful immunosuppressive fungal metabolite, has been undertaken by analyzing suspended and immobilized cell cultures in parallel. Conidiospores of the producer microorganism, Tolypocladium inflatum, were entrapped into porous celite particles. Easier germination of the entrapped spores and more active growth of the immobilized cells were manifested when compared with free cell cultures initiated with spores or with mycelial inocula. Significant differences in precursor flow between the immobilized and free cell systems were evident when the effects of L-valine (a constituent amino acid of the Cy A molecule) on Cy A biosynthesis were compared in the two systems. For the freely suspended cells, L-valine supplemented early in the fermentation served as a possible precursor or stimulator of Cy A biosynthesis. A significant increase in specific production and Cy A yield on carbon source was observed in this system relative to suspended cultures supplemented with L-valine during or after exponential growth. In contrast to the free cell cultures, the addition of L-valine during the initial stage of immobilized cell growth had a negative effect on Cy A production but resulted in somewhat increased cell growth. This suggests an incompatibility between primary and secondary metabolic networks involved in Cy A biosynthesis in the immobilized state upon external addition of the amino acid.