High-cell-density cultivation of Schizochytrium sp in an ammonium/pH-auxostat fed-batch system

Thraustochytrids, in particular Schizochytrium spp., are used for the production of the valuable polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n-3). Growth of Schizochytrium sp. G13/2S in a defined medium was initially made in shake-flask cultures to determine the optimum concentrations of glucose (100-200 g l(-1)) and ammonia (similar to 300 mg l(-1)) that could be used by this microorganism. In subsequent fermenter cultures, a pH-auxostat method was used to maintain NH3 from 200-300 mg l(-1). During the first 49 h of fermentation, 150 g glucose l(-1) produced 63 g cell dry wt l(-1). Although growth was not limited by the supply of nitrogen, total fatty acids were at 25% cell dry wt which is more than half the final lipid content of commercially-grown Schizochytrium biomass which uses N-limited medium in the final stages for maximum lipid accumulation. This strategy is therefore useful for the cultivation of Schizochytrium to a high cell density up to the point when lipid accumulation can be triggered by N exhaustion.