Production of Biotin by Microbial Transformation of dl-cis-Tetrahydro-2-oxo-4-n-pentyl-thieno-(3, 4-d)-imidazoline (dl-TOPTI)

Abstract

The conditions for biotin production were investigated. Urea was a more effective nitrogen source than ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate. About 60% conversion from dl-cis-tetrahydro-2-oxo-4-n-pentyl-thieno-(3, 4-d)-imidazoline (dl-TOPTI) to biotinol and biotin occurred using Corynebacterium sp. B-321. Strain M-6318 which derived from B-321 as a mutant incapable of assimilating n-alkane produced large amounts of dl-biotin from dl-TOPTI. The inability of the microbe to assimilate n-alkane resulted in repression of biotin degradation. Maximum conversion (80%) was obtained by growing cultures of strain M-6318 in the constant presence of n-paraffin.