Culturing Pseudomonas bacteria with high nitrile hydratase prodn. - by aerobic cultivation under shearing conditions with addn. of water soluble copper salt

摘要

Cultivation of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas to produce cells with nitrile-hydratase (NH) activity comprises culturing under shearing forces in a medium to which a water-soluble copper cpd. has been added. The Cu cpd. is the chloride, sulphate, nitrate, acetate, tartrate, acetylacetonate or EDTA salt, pref. added at 0.5-5 (esp. 1-3) mg (as Cu metal)/l. USE/ADVANTAGE - Addn. of the Cu cpd. provides high yields of cells of high specific enzyme activity, particularly in large scale (500 l or more) fermentor, where activity can be 2.35 times that without Cu addn. The method is simple and requires no modification to standard fermentors. NH is used to convert nitriles to corresponding amides, particularly acrylonitrile to acrylamide.