Enhanced production and characterization of coenzyme Q10 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides using a potential fermentation strategy

Abstract

BackgroundThe demand for Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to the human body is increasing due to its potential health function. However, the production of CoQ10 in yields remains a big problem for commercialization. MethodsThis study attempts to develop a useful fermentation strategy for enhancing the production of CoQ10 from the Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Significant FindingsIt was observed that the cell growth, the concentration and the content of CoQ10 were further enhanced to 11.44 g/L, 60.02 mg/L and 5.25 mg/g by the assimilation of 2 g/L of vitamin B1. This fed-batch culture using vitamin B1 as a feeding substrate resulted into the cell growth, the CoQ10 production and the CoQ10 content of 16.5 g/L, 88.7 mg/L and 5.38 mg/g respectively. Moreover, the fed-batch culture with 100% medium replacement of 12 h-, 24 h- and 48 h-cultivations were also performed. The maximal cell growth, CoQ10 production and CoQ10 content were found to be 37.65 g/L, 138.24 mg/L and 3.67 mg/g, respectively. Eventually, this study also identified the CoQ10 produced by R. sphaeroides using FAB-MS and 1HNMR . It was suggested that by optimizing the environmental factors, the CoQ10 production was enhanced by 3.42 folds for fed-batch culture when compared with the batch cultivation.