Title:Fine Bubble Mixing (FBM) Culture of E. coli: A Highly Cost-effective Middle Scale-size Culture System
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Hidetaro Yasumitsu, Hitoshi Tajima, Masaharu Isobe, Sinsuke Kutsuna, Sarkar M.A. Kawsar, Yuki Fujii, Robert A. Kanaly, Yasuhiro Ozeki and Eriko Yokota
Affiliation:22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan 236-0027.
Keywords:Cost-effective culture system, E. coli, recombinant protein expression
Abstract:A highly cost-effective and easy-to-assemble cultivation system suitable for middle scale-size culturing of bacterial
cells is described. In the culture, from a flat-shaped air-stone with large surface area, fine bubbles are generated with
a low-cost air pump available in an aquarium fish shop, and cell-agitation and oxygen supply are efficiently conducted by
fine bubbles simultaneously. Growth properties of the cells and their saturation density are comparable to those in a conventional
culture system. The expression of recombinant protein was revealed to be similar to conventional methods. The
system does not require any expensive machines or equipments. In addition, all equipments except plastic flat-shaped airstone
are reusable after sterilization. Due to the low cost, the ease to use and multiple cultivations at once, our system may
enable to find better culture conditions, to scale-up with ease and to perform timesaving efficient protein production.
