Formation of the Exopolysaccharide ethapolan by acinetobacter sp. IMV B-7005 on a fumarate–glucose mixture

Abstract

Our studies enabled us to intensify the synthesis of the microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS) ethapolan produced by Acinetobacter sp. IMV B-7005 grown on a mixture of fumarate (an energy-excessive substrate) and glucose (an energy-deficient substrate). Supplementing glucose-containing medium with sodium (potassium) fumarate at a molar ratio of 4 : 1 resulted in a 1.3–2.2-fold increase of the EPS amount synthesized and in a 1.3–2-fold increase of the EPS yield relative to the biomass compared to cultivation on monosubstrates. The conversion of the carbon of both substrates to EPS was the highest if the carbon/nitrogen ratio in the cultivation medium was 70.5 and inoculum grown on glucose monosubstrate was used.