A representative production medium for chlorotetracycline typically contains which set of ingredients?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Sugar, corn steep liquor, CaCO3, (NH4)2SO4, and NH4Cl

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Chlortetracycline production employs complex media that supply carbon, organic nitrogen, and minerals, with buffering to control pH. Corn steep liquor (CSL) provides vitamins and growth factors; CaCO3 helps maintain pH; ammonium salts provide inorganic nitrogen; and a sugar supplies carbon and energy.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Industrial submerged fermentation with Streptomyces.
  • Need for carbon, nitrogen, minerals, and buffering.


Concept / Approach:
A complete production medium should include a sugar (glucose/sucrose/starch hydrolysate), CSL for complex nutrients, CaCO3 for buffering, and ammonium salts such as (NH4)2SO4 and sometimes NH4Cl. Omitting sugar or complex nitrogen would not be representative of a balanced production recipe for high titers.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Identify the option that includes carbon source, complex nitrogen, buffer, and mineral nitrogen.Option (a) contains all typical components.Select option (a) as the representative medium.


Verification / Alternative check:
Multiple published formulations follow this pattern, occasionally substituting specific sugars or adjusting ammonium salt ratios, but the component families remain consistent.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Options lacking sugar or CSL are incomplete for typical high-yield production.
  • “Mineral salts only” media are insufficient for complex antibiotic biosynthesis at scale.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming a minimal salts medium can support high secondary metabolite titers without complex nutrients and buffering.


Final Answer:
Sugar, corn steep liquor, CaCO3, (NH4)2SO4, and NH4Cl

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