Moranoline (1-Deoxynojirimycin) Fermentation and Its Improvement

Abstract

Moranoline (1-deoxynojirimycin) is a strong α-glucosidase inhibitor. A rapid screening method for isolation of moranoline-producing Streptomyces (oblate agar plate method) was developed. A glucoamylase inhibitor was isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptomyces lavendulae GC-148, a mutant strain obtained from Streptomyces lavendulae MB-733, a soil isolate; its spectral data were identical with those of moranoline from Morus species. Increased moranoline production was achieved through media improvement and mutagenic treatments (ultraviolet irradiation and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment): 27~33-fold augmentation (150 to 4000~5000 μg/ml) was obtained.