Ammonium and phosphate limitation in 1,3-propanediol production by Klebsiella pneumoniae

Excretion of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) by K. pneumoniae was compared in ammonium- and phosphate-limited chemostat cultures running with an excess of glycerol. 59 and 43% catabolic flux were directed to 1,3-PD in ammonia-limited cultures and phosphate-limited cultures at dilution rate of 0.1 h⁻¹, respectively. Ammonia-limited fed-batch cultures produced 61 g 1,3-PD l⁻¹ and a total of 15 g l⁻¹ organic acid in 36 h. However, phosphate-limited fed-batch cultures excreted 61 g lactate l⁻¹ and 44 g 1,3-PD l⁻¹.