[Production of vitamin C precursor--2-keto-L-gulonic acid from D-sorbitol by mixed culture of microorganisms].

Abstract

Gluconobacter oxydans SCB329 only produce a little amount of 2-Keto-L-gulonic acid(2-KLG) from D-Sorbitol when growing alone; while Gluconobacter sp. SCB110 can transform D-Sorbitol to L-Sorbose and can not produce 2-KLG. 2-Keto-L-gulonic acid, the precursor of L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) synthesis, was prepared directly with a high efficiency from D-Sorbitol by mixed culture of microorganism, which comprised Gluconobacter sp. SCB110 and Gluconobacter oxydans SCB329. The fermentation product from the mixed culture broth in the D-Sorbotol-containing medium was identified as 2-Keto-L-gulonic acid by HPLC, elementary analysis and infra-red adsorption spectrum.