Patent ID: 6015684
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: A23K,A23L,C12N,C12P,C12R

Abstract:
A fermentation method for the production of astaxanthin from a strain of Phaffia rhodozyma, the method comprising cultivating cells of the strain under suitable conditions in a nutrient medium containing a rapidly metabolized energy source that is maintained over at least part of the cultivation at a level such that the strain experiences (i) a growth phase during which its cells increase rapidly in number and produce astaxanthin, and during which the energy source is fed to the strain at a rate such that it does not accumulate in the medium in excess of a predetermined level, followed by (ii) a maturation phase, during which the increase in cell number slows but the astaxanthin production continues at a rate at least as great as the rate during the growth phase, in which the maturation phase is extended by the following:(a) reducing and maintaining the external feed rate of the rapidly metabolized energy source at a level that is no more than about 50% of the rate at which said energy source was fed to the strain at the close of the growth phase; or(b) stopping the external feed of the rapidly metabolized energy source and replacing it, at the start of the maturation phase, with an external source of a slowly metabolized energy source.