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Role of cultivation media in the development of yeast strains for large scale industrial use

Bärbel Hahn-Hägerdal1*, Kaisa Karhumaa1, Christer U Larsson1, Marie Gorwa-Grauslund1, Johann Görgens2 and Willem H van Zyl3

Author Affiliations

1 Applied Microbiology, LTH/Lund University, P O Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

2 Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa

3 Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch

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Microbial Cell Factories 2005, 4:31 doi:10.1186/1475-2859-4-31

Published: 10 November 2005

Abstract

The composition of cultivation media in relation to strain development for industrial application is reviewed. Heterologous protein production and pentose utilization by Saccharomyces cerevisiae are used to illustrate the influence of media composition at different stages of strain construction and strain development. The effects of complex, defined and industrial media are compared. Auxotrophic strains and strain stability are discussed. Media for heterologous protein production and for bulk bio-commodity production are summarized.