WO1995012683A1

WO1995012683A1 - Microbial strains producing sphingolipid bases

Info

Publication number: WO1995012683A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/003652
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lex De Boer; Ingrid Francisca Caroline Van Der Wildt
Original assignee: Gist-Brocades N.V.
Priority date: 1993-11-03
Filing date: 1994-11-03
Publication date: 1995-05-11
Also published as: US5910425A; ES2193183T3; US6204006B1; DE69432152T2; JP3471020B2; EP0726960A1; JPH09504434A; ATE232909T1; DE69432152D1; AU8140794A; EP0726960B1; DK0726960T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the production of microbial strains capable of producing enhanced levels of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and/or derivatives thereof by means of the use of mutagenesis and selection techniques.

Description

Microbial strains producing sphingolipid bases

The present invention relates to methods for th improvement of microbial strains producing sphingolipid base by means of mutagenesis and selection techniques.

Background of the Invention

The term "sphingolipids" refers to a group of lipid which are derived from sphingosine. Sphingolipids occu frequently in the cellular membranes of animals, plants an microorganisms. The exact function of sphingolipids in human remains unknown, but it is clear that this group of compound is involved in the transmission of electrical signals in th nervous system and in the stabilization of cell membranes. I has also been suggested that glycosphingosines have function in the immune system: specific glycosphingosine function as receptors for bacterial toxins and possibly als as receptors for bacteria and viruses.

Sphingolipids contain sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine o phytosphingosine as a base in amide linkage with a fatt acid. Sphingosine or phytosphingosine bases may be used a starting materials in the synthesis of a particular group o sphingolipids, namely ceramides. Ceramides are the main lipi component of the stratum corneum, the upper layer of th skin. The stratum corneum has an important barrier function external compounds are generally kept outside of its barrie and the loss of moisture is limited. The addition o sphingolipids such as ceramides to skin cosmetic product improve the barrier function and moisture-retainin properties of the skin (Curatolo, 1987; Kerscher et al. 1991) . Currently, heterogenous sphingolipid preparations fo cosmetics are mainly extracted from animal sources. Obviously, this is a rather costly process on an industria scale. Moreover, it has been found that these materials ar potentially unsafe due, for example, to the possible presenc of bovine spongiform encephalomyelitis (BSE) in bovin tissue. Thus, the cosmetic industry has demonstrated a increasing interest in new sources of pure, well-define sphingolipids, which are obtained from sources other tha animal tissues.

Microorganisms such as the yeasts Pichia ciferrii. formerly indicated as Hansenula ciferrii and Endomvcopsi ciferrii (Barnett et al., 1990; Stodola and Wickerham, 1960 Wickerham and Stodola, 1960; Wickerham et al., 1954 Wickerham, 1951) have been found to produce sphingolipids a such, as well as sphingosine, phytosphingosine and/o derivatives thereof. This discovery provides sources fo sphingolipids themselves and for starting materials for th production of other commercially valuable compounds whic could offer a viable alternative to the use of animal source of these compounds.

For example, acetylated derivatives of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine may be deacetylate and the thus-obtained sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine o phytosphingosine may be chemically converted into relate compounds such as ceramides, pseudoceramides and/o glycoceramides which in turn may be applied in cosmetic an therapeutic products (Smeets and Weber, 1993) .

The production of phytosphingosine and/or its acetylate derivatives has also been demonstrated in the yeasts Candid utilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Wagner and Zofcsik, 1966; Oda and Ka iya, 1958), Hanseniaspora valbyensis (Brau and Snell, 1967) and Torulopsis utilis (Kulmacz an Schroepfer Jr. , 1978) . Phytosphingosine production has als been reported in the fungi Aspergillus sydowi and Penicilliu notatum (Stodola and Wickerham, 1960) . Furthermore, in a study in which thirty species of yeas selected from the genera Saccharomyces, Kluyveromvces Debaromvces, Pichia, Hansenula. Lipomyces. Sporobolomvces Cryptococcus, Torulopsis. Candida. Trichosporon an Rhodotorula were examined, it was found that all contained a least a form of sphingolipids (ceramide onohexoside) an thus could potentially be employed for sphingolipi production (Kaneko et al., 1977).

Sphingolipid production has also been demonstrated i strains of bacterial genera such as Sphingobacterium (Yano e al., 1983), Acetobacter. Bacteroides, Bdellovibrio Xanthomonas and Flavobacterium (Tahara et al., 1986).

Stoffel et al. (1968) found that the yeast Hansenul (Pichia) ciferrii acetylates all of the long-chain base which were used as precursors in the study. Sphingosine wa converted into triacetylsphingosine and dihydrosphingosin into triacetyl-, diacetyl- and N-acetyl-dihydrosphingosine Moreover, three acetyl derivatives of phytosphingosine hav been isolated, namely tetraacetyl-, triacetyl- and N-acetyl phytosphingosine. In addition to these acetyl derivatives Hansenula ciferrii produced long chain ceramides in a mediu containing long chain bases.

The biosynthetic pathway of tetraacetylphytosphingosin (TAPS) synthesis in Pichia ciferrii was described b Barenholz et al (1973) . The biosynthetic pathway fo sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine is proposed by Dimari e al. (1971).

Barenholz et al. (1971 & 1973) investigated th metabolic background of the production of TAPS and othe sphingolipid bases in four strains of Hansenula (Pichia ciferrii. In the later study, the profiles of four microsoma enzymes specific for the Toiosynthesis of acetylate sphingosine bases of a low (Hansenula ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 E-ll, sex b, 8-20-57) and a high producer (Hansenula ciferri NRRL Y-1031, F-60-10) were compared. It was found that th specific activity of 3-keto dihydrosphingosine synthetase an the long-chain base acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase wer increased 5-10 fold and 30 fold respectively, as compar with the low producer, whereas the activities of palmit thiokinase and 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase we similar. This indicates that in the low producer, t activity of the 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase and t long-chain base acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase are the limiti steps in the synthesis of acetylated sphingosines. Under t defined growth conditions, Hansenula ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 60-10 was found to produce 300 μmoles/1 sphingosine (abo 0.15 g/1) bases, of which, at least 250 μmoles/1 we extracellular. Even where culture conditions were optimiz for TAPS production, only 0.485 g/1 TAPS (0.024 g TAPS/ g d yeast) was obtained (Maister et al., 1962).

However, none of the yeast strains studied to date, ev Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10, produce sufficie amounts of sphingolipid bases such as sphingosin phytosphingosine or derivatives thereof to be an efficien economically attractive source of such compounds. F example, the availability of yeast strains capable producing increased levels of TAPS would considerably impro the economic feasibility and attractiveness for t production of this important starting material which in tu may be converted into commercially valuable end-products su as ceramides, pseudoceramides and glycoceramides.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides for the production microbial strains capable of producing enhanced levels sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine derivatives thereof by means of mutagenesis and selecti techniques. The thus-produced mutant strains produce enhanc levels of the desired products as compared to the producti levels of their parent strains which are cultured und identical conditions. These increased production leve provide an economically attractive source of these compoun for use as such, or as starting materials for conversion int commercially valuable end-products.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention demonstrates that production o sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine an derivatives thereof can be increased by subsequent cycles o mutagenesis and selection of microbial strains which hav been determined to produce such compounds. In this manner biosynthetic bottlenecks can be removed step by step resulting in the enhanced production of these products.

The present invention provides methods for th production of a microbial strain capable of producin enhanced levels of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine phytosphingosine and/or derivatives thereof as compared t its parent strain, wherein the parent strain is subjected t at least one mutagenesis treatment comprising treating sai parent strain with a sufficient amount of a suitable mutage to provide a mutant strain which is capable of producin enhanced levels of the desired product as compared to it parent strain when cultured under identical conditions; an subsequently selecting the mutant strain on the basis o enhanced production of the desired product.

In particular, mutant strains are produced which ar capable of enhanced levels of sphingosine and/or keto glycosylated or acetylated derivatives thereof including 3 ketosphingosine, triacetylsphingosine, diacetylsphingosin and N-acetylsphingosine; dihydrosphingosine and/or keto glycosylated or acetylated derivatives thereof including 3 ketodihydrosphingosine, triacetyldihydrosphingosine diacetyldihydrosphingosine and N-acetyldihydrosphingosine and/or phytosphingosine and/or keto, glycosylated o acetylated derivatives thereof including tetraacetyl phytosphingosine, triacetylphytosphingosine, diacetyl phytosphingosine and N-acetylphytosphingosine. Preferre compounds are sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phyto sphingosine and/or acetylated derivatives thereof. Mor preferred compounds are phytosphingosine and acetylate derivatives thereof. Most preferred is tetraacetyl phytosphingosine (TAPS) .

Preferably, the mutant strains produced by the method of the present invention and cultured as described in th Examples (below) may produce an amount of 0.030 g TAPS/ yeast dry weight, preferably 0.050 g TAPS/g yeast dry weight, preferably 0.060 g TAPS/g yeast dry weight, preferably 0.07 g TAPS/g of yeast dry weight, preferably 0.10 g TAPS/g o yeast dry weight, preferably at least 0.15 g TAPS/g yeast dr weight, and most preferably at least 0.20 g TAPS/g yeast dr weight. Strains (i.e. parent strains) which may be employe according to the present invention include yeast, bacteria and fungal strains capable of naturally producin sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and/o derivatives thereof. Preferably, candidate (parent) strain for use in the process of the present invention are strain which demonstrate the highest inherent production levels o the desired products.

Yeast strains for use in the present invention may b selected from species of the genera Saccharomyces, Kluveromyces. Debaromyces, Pichia. Hansenula. Lipomyces. Sporobolomvces. Cryptococcus. Torulopsis, Endomycopsis, Candida. Trichosporon, Hanseniaspora and Rhodotorula. Preferred yeast strains belong to the genus Pichia Hansenula. Endomvcopsis. Candida. Saccharomyces an Hanseniaspora and particularly the species Pichia ciferri (formerly indicated as Hansenula ciferrii and Endomycopsi ciferrii) , Candida utilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mos preferred are yeast strains which belong to the genus Pichi and most preferably to the species Pichia ciferri (especially Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10) . Preferred fungi are of the genera Aspergillus a Penicillium and are more preferably of the speci Aspergillus sydowi and Penicillium notatum.

Preferred bacteria are of the genera Sphingobacteri (especially ∑L. versatilis. S. multivorum and S__ mizutae Acetobacter (especially &__ xylinum) , Bacteroides (especial B. melaninogenicus, B. fragilis. B. ruminicola and thetaiotaomicron) , Bdellovibrio (especially Bdellovibr bacteriovus) , Xanthomonas (especially Xanthomonas campestri and Flavobacterium (especially Flavobacterium devorans) .

According to the present invention, mutagenesis may performed by using any suitable mutagen which leads to t enhanced production of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosin phytosphingosine and/or derivatives thereof. Examples preferred utagens are UV irradiation, ethyl metha sulphonate and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine.

The mutagenesis may be carried out as a sing mutagenesis, but it is found to be advantageous to perfo the mutagenesis two or more times. The ability of strains produce enhanced amounts of the desired products such as TA is elevated after each mutagenization step.

After the mutagenesis reaction(s) is completed, resulting mutant can be selected which, when cultivated und conditions conducive to the production of the desir sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and/ derivative thereof, demonstrates the highest producti levels of the desired product.

Preselection of high-producing mutant cells is perform on agar plates by visual observation of the crystal zone single colonies, followed by their isolation. Coloni showing the largest diameter of crystals relative to colo size are selected. Other preselection methods may also employed, for example resistance to a ino acid analogs protein synthesis inhibitors. Cells isolated in this manner may be cultured in sha flasks or tube cultures and appropriate mutants are select by determining the production levels of the desired produ via the analysis of suitable dilutions of the fermentatio broth. The descriptions of the growth conditions, as detaile in the Examples, are provided as a reference for th determination of the production levels of the desire products by the strains of the present invention. However other culture conditions, which are conducive to productio of the desired products, as known to the skilled artisan, ma also be used without departing from the spirit of the presen invention. Quantitative analysis may be performed by variou methods, for example by means of the successive deacetylatio of TAPS and related compounds via oxidation with periodate Aldehydes, which are decomposition products of the oxidatio of TAPS and related compounds, are formed in stoicheometri amounts.

Selection on the basis of TAPS production levels ma additionally or alternatively be performed in shake flask which are extracted with CDC1₃ and analyzed by NMR. TAPS i preferably used as a standard for NMR analysis. Other desired products such as sphingosine phytosphingosine and dihydrosphingosine; triacetyl, diacety and N-acetyl derivatives of sphingosine, phytosphingosine an dihydrosphingosine; glycosylated derivatives of sphingosine phytosphingosine, and dihydrosphingosine; 3-ket dihydrosphingosine and/or 3-ketosphingosine may b quantitatively determined in the same manner and the TAP standard used as the reference.

Once the desired product is obtained it may be use directly or may be further processed for eventual use. Fo example, acetylated derivatives of sphingosine dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine may be deacetylate either enzymatically or chemically and subsequently used a starting materials in the synthesis of commercially valuabl sphingolipid products such as ceramides, glycoceramides an pseudoceramides (Smeets and Weber, 1993) .

The following examples are provided so as to give thos of ordinary skill in the art a complete disclosure an description of the present invention and are not intended t limit the scope of what the inventors regard as thei invention. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy wit respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperature, pH etc.) but some experimental errors and deviation should b accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, temperature is i degrees Celsius and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

Preparative Example A

Preparation of a tetraacetylphytosphingosine standard

A mixture of 1.0 g (2.8 mmol) phytosphingosin hydrochloride (Sigma), 2.7 ml (28 mmol) acetic aci anhydride, 2.1 ml (15 mmol) triethylamine and 10 ml pur chloroform is heated and stirred under a reflux during hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture i washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodiu bicarbonate solution until a pH of 7 is obtained. The organi layer is subsequently dried on MgS0₄, filtrated and evaporate in vacuo at 50°C. The residue is purified by colum chromatography using a Merck: Lobor Fertich Saule Grofie (440-37) Lichroprep Si60 (40-60μM) column. A mixture o dichloromethane and methanol (25:1) is used as eluen (pumping rate 10 ml/min.). The product obtained is a whit solid and is formed in 80 percent yield and has a meltin point in the range of 41-43°C. The purity of the thus-forme TAPS is determined in CDC1₃ by NMR techniques (proton NMR, 36 MHz) (p-nitrotoluene was used as the internal standard) an is estimated to be 96%.

A concentration of 15 mg TAPS/ml CDC1₃ derived a indicated above is used as a standard in all the examples a described in the present invention. Preparative Example B TAPS Agar Medium Slants

122 g Nemoutex (Diastatische Produkten B.V. ; Leiden, Th Netherlands) is dissolved in 1 1 water and sterilized for 6 minutes at 110 ^βC. The suspension is incubated at roo temperature overnight and filtered to remove the soli particles. The pH is poised at 6.4. 10 g/1 agar (Bacto) i added and the solution is sterilized at 120°C for 30 min.

Preparative Example C TAPS medium (for tube cultures and shake flasks)

Compound amount (g/1)

KH-phtalate 20 NaCl 0. ,06

MgS0₄- 7H₂0 0. ,88 CaCl₂- 2H₂0 0. ,20 NH₄C1 4. ,83 KH₂P0₄ 1. ,0

(NH₄) ₂Fe (S0₄ ) ₂ 0. ,027 ZnS0₄ 0. ,005 CuS0₄ 0. ,0075 MnS0₄ 0. ,0006 H₃B0₃ 0. ,0006

Na-molybdate 0. ,0006 KI 0. .00015

Myo-inositol 0, .059 nicotinic acid 0, .003 Ca-D-panthotenate 0, .003 vitamine B₁ 0, .003 p-aminobenzoate 0, .002 vitamine B₆ 0, .0003 biotine 0, .00001 yeast extract (Difco) 1.0

In shake flasks and culture tubes, glucose is added t final concentrations of 33 and 7 g/1, respectively. After th components are dissolved, the pH is adjusted to 5.4.

100 ml conical flasks (without baffle) are filled wit 30 ml of medium and sterilized at 110 °C for 30 minutes. Fo agar plates, 20 g agar (Bacto) is added to the medium and th same sterilization procedure is used.

Preparative Example D YEP-D medium

Bactopeptone 20 g

Yeast extract 10 g glucose 20 g bacto-agar 20 g

A volume of 1000 ml de ineralized water is added and th pH is poised at 7.0. The medium is sterilized for 30 minute at 110°C.

Preparative Example E Physiological salts medium

In 1 liter demineralized water, 8.5 g NaCl is dissolve and sterilized for 20 minutes at 120°C.

Preparative Example F Growth Conditions for Cell Culture

Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10 and mutants thereo are grown on slants or agar plates at 24°C in an incubator.

Growth in tubes is performed in 40 ml glass tube (diameter 2.5 cm) containing 3.0 ml TAPS medium. The tube are incubated vertically in a rack in a Gallenkamp orbita incubator (300 rpm, 24°C) for a period of 3 days. After t fermentation is completed, the concentration of the thus formed TAPS is corrected for evaporation during t incubation. The mutants are tested in four-fold.

Growth in shake flasks (without a baffle) is perform in 30 ml TAPS medium (see above) in 100 ml conical flasks in 100 ml medium in 500 ml conical flasks. Incubation occu in a Gallenkamp orbital incubator (250 rpm, 24°C) for period of 3 days. After the fermentation is completed, t concentration of the thus-formed TAPS is corrected fo evaporation during the incubation. The mutants are tested i four-fold.

Example 1

Mutagenesis with ultra-violet irradiation (UV)

A semi-logarithmic culture (100 ml) of Pichia ciferri NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10 or a mutant derived thereof is grown o YEP-D or TAPS medium (24 hours, 24°C, 250 rpm). The cultur is centrifuged (Heraeus sepatech minifuge RF centrifuge, 5,000 x g, 5 minutes) and the pellet washed twice with 25 ml physiological salt medium. The cell suspension is diluted t a final concentration of 10⁸ cells/ml and 10 ml of th suspension is pipetted into sterile petri disks (diameter 9 cm) . The plates are then subjected to UV radiation at distance of 23 cm from the irradiation source (Osra lam HQV, 125 watt) and respectively irradiated for 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 seconds. The irradiated cells are then placed in th dark (30 minutes, 20°C) . To determine the survival rate, dilutions of the mutated cell suspensions are plated out o YEP-D agar medium. The remaining cell suspensions are grow on TAPS medium overnight. If desired, glycerol may be adde to an final concentration of 10% and the suspensions store at -20°C. After 3 days of incubation at 24°C, the colonie are counted and the survival percentage is calculated. Th cell suspension wherein the irradiation treatment results i a survival percentage of about 10% is used for selection o high TAPS-producing mutants.

Example 2 Mutagenesis with Ethyl-Methane-Sulphonate (EMS)

A semi-logarithmic culture (100 ml) of Pichia ciferri NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10 or a mutant derived thereof is grown an washed as described in Example 1, with the modification tha the pellet is washed with 50 ml 1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5 instea of physiological salt medium. Afterwards, the cells ar diluted in 25 ml of 1.0 M Tris-HCL buffer pH 7.5 to a final concentration of 10⁸ cells/ml.

To a 6 ml cell suspension, 300 μl EMS is added an incubated at room temperature. At time intervals of 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 minutes, 1 ml samples are drawn. The cells ar subsequently washed twice with 9 ml physiological salt medium and appropriate dilutions are plated out on YEP-D aga medium. Overnight growth of the remaining mutated cells an the estimation of the survival percentage are performed a described in Example 1. The sample showing 10 percen survival is selected to isolate high TAPS producing mutants.

Example 3 Mutagenesis with N-methyl-N -nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG)

A semi-logarithmic culture (100 ml) of Pichia ciferri NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10 or a mutant derived thereof is grown an washed as described in Example 1, with the modification tha the pellet is washed with 50 ml 1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5 instea of physiological salt medium. Afterwards, the cells ar diluted in 25 ml of 1.0 M Tris-HCL buffer pH 7.5 to a fina concentration of 10⁸ cells/ml.

To 6 ml cell suspension, 600 μl of a freshly prepare stock solution of NTG is added and incubated at room temp. A time intervals of 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 minutes, 1 ml samples ar drawn. The cells are subsequently washed twice with 9 m physiological salt medium and appropriate dilutions ar plated out on YEP-D agar medium. Overnight growth of th mutated cells and the estimation of the survival percentag are performed as in Example 1. The sample showing 10 percen survival is selected to isolate high TAPS producing mutants. Example 4 Preselection of Mutants

Preselection is performed on TAPS-agar medium Appropriate dilutions of cells (25-50 colonies/plate) ar obtained as described in Examples 1, 2, or 3, above, and ar incubated 4-7 days at 24"C in an incubator. To stimulat crystallization, the plates are incubated at 4°C overnight

Afterwards, colonies having the highest crystallization rati are selected (Crystallization ratio = diamete crystallization zone surrounding the colony (mm)/diamete colony (mm) ) .

These colonies are isolated and transferred to aga plates containing TAPS-agar medium. These plates are referre to as "master plates" and the colonies are indicated a

"original colonies". The cell-material on these master plate is used for selection of the highest TAPS producers in tubes shake flasks and storage purposes.

Example 5

TAPS Analysis on Tube-Grown Cultures (Method 1)

Further selection of cells obtained in Example 4 i subsequently carried out in tubes and shake flasks as i described under Preparative Example F and the analysis i performed as indicated below. The procedure of TAP determination is divided in three parts (sections 5 a-c) .

5 a Deacetylation of Tetraacetylphytosphingosine Stock solutions of 0.05 - 0.3 g/1 TAPS are used a references. To 1 ml of the samples, sodium hydroxide is adde to an eight-fold excess with regard to the expected amount o TAPS and the solution is incubated at 50°C during two hours.

5 b Oxidation of Phytosphingosine

Oxidation of phytosphingosine is performed by th addition of sodium periodate. CH₃-(CH₂)₁₃-CHOH-CHOH-CHNH₂-CH₂-OH >

CH₃-(CH₂)₁₃-CHO + 2 HCOOH + NH₃ + HCHO

A sample of the deacetylated reaction mixture obtaine in step a, above is added to 1 ml of a 30 mM potassiu periodate in 0.1 M acetic acid buffer pH 5.4. Subsequently the oxidation is carried out at room temperature in the dar overnight during which the reaction mixture is shaken gentl on an IKA Vibrax VXR electronic shaker (125 rpm) . Th reaction tubes are carefully closed to prevent evaporation o the aldehyde generated in the reaction.

5 c Determination of Aldehyde

The amount of aldehyde generated in step b, above may b determined by a colorimetric method as described by Aviga (1983).

Following the oxidation procedure of step b, 0.3 ml 1 (w/v) Purpald (Aldrich) in 1 N NaOH is added to 0.2 m sample. The Purpald reagent should be freshly prepared (no older than 2 hours) . This mixture is incubated for 30 minute on an IKA Vibrax VXR electronic shaker (180-200 rpm) . Th reaction is subsequently terminated by the addition of 0.5 m 0.2% NaBH₄ in IN NaOH (w/v). The absorption of the sample i measured at a wavelength of 548 nm.

Example 6

TAPS analysis by NMR (Method 2)

Further selection of cells obtained in Example 4 i subsequently carried out in tubes and shake flasks as i described under Preparative Example F and the analysis i performed as indicated below.

6 a Extraction

Extraction of TAPS from the shake flask growth mediu may be performed with various hydrophobic organic compounds

The organic extraction compound applied in the presen example is deuterated chloroform (CDC1₃) . Culture medium (2 ml) is extracted with 2 ml CDC1₃ and mixed horizontally in vigorous manner at room temperature on an IKA Vibrax VX electronic shaker (full speed)) for 5 minutes. The mixture i then centrifuged (Heraeus sepatech minifuge RF centrifuge 10,000 x g, 5 minutes) and the CDC1₃ removed and analyzed b NMR.

6 b Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Analysis

The TAPS content of the CDCl₃-layer is measured in th same series as the TAPS standard and for this purpose a

AMR360 NMR-apparatus (Bruker-Carlsruhe Germany) is used. Th following adjustments of the NMR apparatus are used:

Receiver gain value: fixed Relaxation time: 5 seconds Number of scans: fixed Pulse: 45°

The Fourier transformation of the obtained FID's (Fre

Induction Decay) are performed with an absolute intensity

The quantity of TAPS (expressed in mg per gram culture) i calculated with the following formula:

Integral(sample) x weight standard x purity standard x 2/2 Integral(standard)

The weight and the purity of the standard is expresse in grams and percent, respectively. The standard contains 1 mg TAPS/ml CDCl₃.

Example 7 Dry Weight Measurement

Dried centrifuge tubes with known weights (A) are fille with about 10 ml cell suspension and the weight is measure once more (B) and centrifuged. The pellets are subsequentl dried in an incubator (24 hours, 105 °C) and the weigh measured again (C) . The dry weight is calculated as follo (A, B, C are expressed in grams) : Dry weight (g/kg) =

{ (C-A)/(B-A) ) x 1000 g dry matter/kg cell suspension For shake flasks, the TAPS content (in gram TAPS/gra dry weight) is calculated as follows: TAPS content = Quantity TAPS (g TAPS/kg culture)

Yeast dry weight (g/kg culture)

Accordingly, the production levels of TAPS are expresse as g TAPS/g yeast dry weight.

Example 8

Quantitative Determination of TAPS Formed by the Cultures of

Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-6010 and obtained mutants on

TAPS medium

Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10 is grown in forty fold, CBS 111, CBS 1710 and CBS 1910 are grown in ten-fol and mutant strains are grown in five-fold in shake flasks o TAPS medium and cultured under conditions as described unde Preparative Example F. TAPS extraction and NMR-analysis ar performed as described in Example 6. Dry weight measurement is performed as described in Example 7.

The resonance peaks of the NMR spectra of the CDCl₃-laye which are obtained by extraction of a culture of a TAPS producing yeast strain are located identically to those whic are obtained from analysis of the TAPS-standard which i prepared as described in Preparative Example A.

The average productivity of the forty shake flas cultures of F-60-10 is 0.025 g TAPS/g yeast dry weight. Th productivity of CBS 111, CBS 1710 and CBS 1910 is the averag of 10 independent measurements and the productivities o mutant strains are the averages of 5 independen measurements. The productivities of five mutant strain (designated as 5F11, 14D11, 15G8, 20A11 and 27D10) ar depicted in the table below. As is shown, the mutant strain have a considerable higher production level, about 40-60 higher, than the productivity of the parent strain.

The five mutant strains, and also the parent strai Pichia ciferri NRRL-Y1031 F-60-10, are deposited at th

"Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures" (CBS) , Baarn, th

Netherlands, at July 6, 1994, under the following depositio numbers (see also table above): CBS 403.94, CBS 404.94, CB 405.94, CBS 406.94, CBS 407.94 (mutant strains) and CB 408.94 (parent strain).

TAPS-productivity in shake flasks of Pichia ciferrii strain CBS 111, CBS 1710 and CBS 1910, and Of NRRL-Y1031 F-60-10 an mutants obtained from the latter strain:

Strain Productivity

(g TAPS/g dry weight)

CBS 111 0. ,0072

CBS 1710 0. .0046

CBS 1910 ND^*

F-60-10 CBS 408.94 0. ,023

5F11 CBS 405.94 0. ,033

14D11 CBS 403.94 0. ,037

15G8 CBS 404.94 0. ,034

20A11 CBS 406.94 0. ,036

27D10 CBS 407.94 0. ,032

ND = not detectable

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Claims

1. A method for the production of a mutant microbial strai characterized in that a parent strain capable of naturall producing a desired compound selected from sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine or derivatives thereo is subjected to at least one mutagenesis treatment comprisin treating said parent strain with a sufficient amount of suitable mutagen to provide a mutant strain which is capabl of producing enhanced levels of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine or derivatives thereo as compared to said parent strain when cultured unde identical conditions; and subsequently selecting said mutan strain on the basis of the enhanced production of the desire compound.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the mutage is selected from UV radiation, ethyl methane sulphonate or N methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that th parent strain is selected from yeast, bacterial and funga strains capable of naturally producing a desired compoun selected from sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine or derivatives thereof.

4. A microbial mutant strain capable of producing enhance levels of a desired compound selected from sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine or derivatives thereo as compared to its parent strain when cultured unde identical conditions, the mutant strain being characterize in that it is obtainable from a method according to any on of claims 1 - 3.

5. A microbial mutant strain according to claim 4, characterized in that it is a yeast strain.

6. A microbial mutant strain according to claim 5, characterized in that it ^• is selected from species of th genus Pichia.

7. A microbial mutant strain according to claim 6, characterized in that it is selected from strains of th species Pichia ciferrii.

8. A method for the production of a desired compoun selected from sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine or derivatives thereof, characterized i that a strain according to any one of the claims 4 to 7 i cultured under conditions conducive to the production of sai desired compound.

9. Use of a strain according to any one of the claims 4 t

7 for the production of a desired compound selected fro sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine o derivatives thereof.