Production of poly-N-acetylglucosamine by Staphylococcus saprophyticus BMSZ711: Characterization and production optimization

This is the first report on the characterization and production optimization of poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) in Staphylococcus saprophyticus. A strain producing glucosamine exopolysaccharide was isolated and characterized by biochemical test and 16S rRNA gene sequence homology analysis and named as S. saprophyticus BMSZ711. The molecular mass of the purified exopolymer was about 12 kDa. Digestion of the PNAG with DispersinB® proved that it has β-1,6 linkage. BMSZ711 can only produce PNAG when grown in M1 minimal medium but not in nutrient rich medium with optimum temperature of 30 °C and pH of 7. Glycerol and ammonium sulfate were found to be the best carbon and nitrogen source, respectively. Maximum PNAG production was obtained when glycerol 100 mM, ammonium sulfate 0.3%, yeast extract 1.5 g/L, sodium chloride 10 g/L and valine 2 mM were used.