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Production of vitamins, coenzymes and related biochemicals by biotechnological processes
Author(s) -
Vandamme Erick J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.280530402
Subject(s) - pantothenic acid , provitamin , vitamin , ergosterol , riboflavin , fermentation , niacin , ascorbic acid , b vitamins , pyridoxine , vitamin b12 , biochemistry , chemistry , cofactor , food science , thiamine , biology , endocrinology , enzyme
Vitamins and related biofactors belong to those few chemicals with a direct positive appeal to people. There is indeed a large need for extra vitamins, other than those derived from plant and animal food sources, due to unbalanced food habits or processing, food shortage or disease. Added vitamins are now either prepared chemically or biotechnologically via fermentation or bioconversion processes. Several vitamins and related biofactors are now only or mainly produced chemically (vitamin A, cholecalciferol (D 3 ), tocopherol (E), vitamin K 2 , thiamine (B 1 ), niacin (PP or B 3 ), pantothenic acid (B 5 ), pyridoxine (B 6 ), biotin (H or B 8 ), folic acid (B 9 ) or via extraction processes (β‐carotene or provitamin A, provitamin D 3 , tocopherol, vitamin F‐group). However, for several of these compounds microbiological or algal methods also exist or are rapidly emerging. Others are produced practically exclusively via fermentation (ergosterol or provitamin D 2 , riboflavin (B 2 ), cyanocobalamin (B 12 ), orotic acid (B 13 ), vitamin F‐group, ATP, nucleosides, coenzymes, etc. or via microalgal culture (β‐carotene, E, F). Both chemical and microbial processes are run industrially for vitamin B 2 while vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is produced via a combination of chemical reactions and fermentation processes. A survey is given here of the current state of vitamin production, with emphasis on developments and strategies for improved biotechnological production and its significance, as compared to existing chemical processes. The screening or construction of vitamin hyperproducing microbial strains is a difficult task; pathway elucidation and metabolic (de)regulation need further study; r‐DNA technology has only recently been introduced; improved fermentation processes and immobilised biocatalysts bioconversions for the synthesis of chiral vitamin compounds or intermediates or derivatives are gaining importance; the recovery and purification of these vitamin compounds from their fermentation broths remains equally complex.