Process design for recombinant protein production based on the promoter, PmalK

P(malK) is induced through activation of MalT, by the formation of maltotriose and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The possibility to influence endogenous inducer levels is used to vary the production rates in specifically designed production protocols. Induction based on a batch process protocol on maltose gives low production rates, as the result of a lack of cAMP, which is shown to be of major importance to fully induce this promoter. Two mechanisms are thus used to influence the levels of maltotriose and/or cAMP formation: (1) catabolite derepression achieved from low glucose concentration and (2) catabolite derepression/inducer exclusion from diauxic growth on glucose/maltose. Fed-batch processes based on limited amounts of glucose result in product accumulation of up to 10% of the total protein. Depending on the feed of limiting glucose, different production profiles are developed. The initial increase in the production rate is due to maltotriose formation from endogenous glycogen degradation while, later in the process, production can be further supported by elevated levels of cAMP, provided the feed rate is sufficiently low. The introduction of maltose after a preceding fed-batch process on glucose can be efficiently used to produce maltotriose in combination with cAMP formation in the event of catabolite derepression. This leads to higher production rates and a further increase in product accumulation of up to 30% of the total protein. The diauxic growth phase resulting from the shift in carbon source can be shortened and even avoided by the design of the preceding feed-rate of glucose. It is postulated that proper design of the inoculum and initial phases of production can reduce basal levels of product formation. With this promoter, the production rate can be as high as 65 units mg(-1) h(-1) and the time to reach a maximal production rate can be designed to take up to 8 h. Furthermore, the duration of the production rate can be as long as 7 h.