Melanin production by transformed organisms
AssigneeBiosource Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGuy della-Cioppa, Stephen J. Garger, Jr., Genadie G. Sverlow, Thomas H. Turpen, Laurence K. Grill, Miles R. Chedekel, Monto H. Kumagai
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a process for producing melanins, their precursors and their analogues, hereinafter referred to generically as melanins. According to the invention, melanins are produced in amounts greater than about 3.3 grams wet weight per liter of growth medium. The enhanced production of melanin can be achieved by manipulating the constituents of the growth medium, and/or attenuating fermentations conditions, and/or by genetically engineering microorganisms to produce melanins, and/or mutating the microorganisms.
Claims13
A method for over-producing melanins, comprising:
- (a) growing a melanin-producing Streptomyces microorganism, wherein said microorganism is transformed with a vector comprising:
- a first DNA sequence which encodes a tyrosinase, and
- a second DNA sequence which encodes tyrosinase activator sequence selected from the group consisting of a Streptomyces antibioticus tyrosinase activator sequence derived from the mel locus, and a Streptomyces glaucescens tyrosinase activator sequence derived from the mel locus;
- in a medium comprising:
- casein hydrolysate or casein peptone as a nitrogen source,
- CuSO.sub.4 -5H.sub.2 O,
- 20-90% dissolved oxygen,
- between 1.2 and 1.6 g/l of 1-tyrosine, or an amount sufficient to saturate the solution during fermentation,
- wherein said growth medium does not comprise a carbohydrate as an energy source;
- (b) extracting said melanins from the growth medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.