Some Problems Involved in Ampicillin Formation by Kluyvera's Penicillin Acylase

Abstract

The cell growth of Kluyvera citrophila KY3641, capable of producing α-aminobenzylpenicillin (APc) from 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and phenylglycine, was stimulated by glutamic acid, serine or proline, or by pH control with tartaric acid or fumaric acid.
Penicillinase produced in an early stage of growth or pH-controlled culture was inactivated by alkaline treatment (incubation of cells at 40°C for 5 to 24 hr in pH 7.5 to 9.5) without inactivation of penicillin acylase. Surface active agents enhanced APc production. On the other hand, phenylalanine and some inorganic compounds inhibited this production.
This bacterium formed APc from penicillin G, but amounts of APc formed were only 9μg from 20mg of penicillin G.