Abstract
The utilization of hydrocarbons by microorganisms was studied in many fields, but the production of biotin vitamers by hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria has never been reported.
We have screened many hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria which produce biotin vitamers in the culture broth. The effects of cultural conditions on biotin vitamers production by strain 5-2, tentatively assigned to the genus Pseudomonas, were studied.
More than 98% of biotin vitamers produced from hydrocarbons by strain 5-2 was chromatographically determined as desthiobiotin. As nitrogen source, natural nutrients were more effective than inorganic nitrogen sources. The production of biotin vitamers was increased under the condition of good aeration. Exogenous pimelic or azelaic acid enhanced biotin vitamers production by strain 5-2.
