I am using a strain of Aspergillus terreus which mainly produces oxalic acid and a little of other organic acids, but it doesn't produce much of itaconic acid which is the metabolite of interest, even at pH 2. Considering the fact that low pH is one factor that minimizes undesirable by-product formation, what else can i do to ensure the strain produces more itaconic acid. The medium contains sufficient amounts of glucose and N-source
Of the top of my head, you may need to control the level of nutrients. If you let the nitrogen be depleted then the fungus mught produce more for example. Or the carbon course. Or the phospahates, etc. Or it might be to ensure that all nutrients are in excess. There must be literature on this.
Perhaps this publication helps: Hevekert et al. (2014). Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98:6983. I do not have experience with A. terreus, but with A. niger regarding the formation of citrate and gluconate (see Bosshard et al. (1996) Environmental Science and Technology 30:3066). In the absence of manganese citrate is formed, whereas in its presence gluconate is formed. Perhaps there is a similar regulation in A. terreus.
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