The Production of Testosterone by Fermentation Process

• Main Authors: Lo, Chih-Kang, 羅之綱
• Other Authors: Liu, Wen-Hsiung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1993
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04041635771240013243

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 農業化學系 === 81 === The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbial transformation process for the conversion of testosterone from cholesterol by Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3805. When a shaking culture was carried out with a production medium supplemented with 0.1 % cholesterol and 3 % glucose at 30 .degree. C,it was found that a maximum accumulation of testo- sterone ( 1.51 mM ) could be obtained at 96 hour-cultivation. The molar conversion rate was 58% . The addition of glucose enhanced the cell growth and increased the reduction power of the cells to convert 4-androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone. However, high level of glucose will restrain the accumulation of testosterone. On the other hand, the addition of peptone ( 1% , w/v ) could also enhance the cell growth and increase the accumulation of testosterone. The yield of testosterone could be promoted from 1.51 mM to 1.68 mM (molar conversion rate 65%) by the addition of .beta. -cyclodextrin. The optimal molar ratio of .beta. -cyclodextrin to cholesterol was 0.5:1. If 4-Androstene-3,17-dione, testosterone, cholesteryl acetate or cholesteryl butyrate was added as an inducer during seed culture cultivation, it was found that the testosterone yield would not increase. When the cultivation in a 5-Liter microcomputer coupling fermentor was carried out with the production medium supple- mented with 2 % glucose and 0.1 % cholesterol under 30 .degree. C, 300 rpm of agitation speed, 1vvm of surface-aeration and no pH value controlled, the maximum testosterone yield ( 1.34 mM ) could be obtained at 120 hours cultivation ( molar conversion rate 51.8 % ). When the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) mode was used to control the pH value at 6.0, the testosterone yield could not be higher than that without pH control. On the