Strain improvement of Rhizopus oryzae for over-production Of L(+)-lactic acid and metabolic flux analysis of mutants

Strain improvement has been conventionally achieved through mutation and selection. However, the genetic and metabolic profiles of mutant strains were poorly characterized and mutagenesis remained a random process. Metabolic flux analysis (MFA) of mutants will enable us to better understand the change of flux profile in vivo and the mechanism of mutagenesis. A L(+)-lactic acid over-producing mutant, Rhizopus oryzae R1021, was isolated by mutagenizing the parent strain (R. oryzae R3017) with UV, diethyl sulfate (DES) and Co-60. Starting with a concentration of 120 g1l com starch, mutant R1021 produced 79.4 g/l L(+)-lactic acid after 60 h in flasks, 52% higher than that produced by the parent strain. The L(+)-lactic acid purity was 99.05% by weight based on the amount of total lactic acid. The mutant R1021 was also morphologically different from the parent strain. The results of carbon flux analysis of the parent strain and mutants showed that the pyruvate node in the metabolic model was the principle and flexible node. The results show that the key steps of the pathways in parent strain where most carbon is lost from lactic acid formation are the reactions form pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, oxaloacetate and ethanol. Although the fractions of the carbon from pyruvate to ethanol and acetyl-CoA were reduced in mutants, these two pathways are still the steps that are most likely to be further targeted to reroute the pyruvate metabolism to improve lactic acid production. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.