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.