Influence of Osmotic Stress on Fermentative Production of Succinic Acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes

This study investigated the influence of osmotic stress on succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113. Both cell growth and succinic acid production were inhibited with the increase in osmotic stress of the medium. The use of three different osmoprotectants in the production of succinic acid was studied in order to decrease the inhibitory effects of osmotic stress during fermentation. Results indicated that proline offers optimal osmoprotection in the production of succinic acid by A. succinogenes NJ113. In tests of batch fermentation, the maximum cell concentration was observed to be 5.36 g DCW/L after the addition of 25 mmol/L proline to the fermentation medium. The cell concentration was 24% higher than that noted for the control. A total quantity of 56.2 g/L of succinic acid was produced, with a production rate of 1 g/L per hour, after 56 h of fermentation. The concentration and productivity of succinic acid was observed to be increased by 22.2% and 22%, respectively, as compared with the control. The specific activity levels of key enzymes in the metabolic network was noted to be higher following the addition of proline, particularly in the later stages of fermentation. This method of enhancing succinic acid production by the addition of an osmoprotectant may potentially provide an alternative approach for enhanced production of other organic acids.