The role of volumetric power input in the growth, morphology, and production of a recombinant glycoprotein by Streptomyces lividans in shake flasks

• We determine the evolution of volumetric power input in three shake flask geometries.
• We measure Streptomyces lividans growth and morphology.
• We measure production and O-mannosylation of a recombinant O-glycoprotein.
• We propose power is not a definitive parameter in shake flasks.
• Oxygen transfer might be the more relevant parameters than P/V.

The impact of flask geometry on Streptomyces lividans growth and morphology, production and O-mannosylation of a recombinant O-glycoprotein (APA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis) was described and associated to the evolution of the volumetric power input (P/V) in three shake flask geometries. During the exponential growth, the highest P/V was found in baffled flasks (BF) with 0.51 kW/m3, followed by coiled flasks (CF) with 0.44 kW/m3 and normal Erlenmeyer flasks (NF) with 0.20 kW/m3 (flasks volume of 250 mL, filling with 50 mL and agitated at 150 rpm). During the stationary phase, P/V decreased 20% in BF and CF, but increased two times in NF, surely due to changes in mycelial morphology and its effects on rheology. Also, NF cultures were carried out at a filling volume and agitation of 15 mL, 150 rpm (15 mL-NF), and 25 mL, 168 rpm (25 mL-NF), in order to raise P/V closely to the values obtained in CF. However, different growth, morphology and recombinant protein productivity were obtained. These data indicate that P/V is not a definitive parameter that can determine bacteria growth and morphology, not even glycoprotein production. But it can be proposed that the oxygen transfer in the center of the pellets and hydromechanical stress might be the more relevant parameters than P/V.