Abstract:

The effects of different additives on cordycepin production by submerged culture of Cordyceps militaris were investigated. Results indicated that the addition of adenine, glycine, adenosine or L-glutamine could result in a large improvement in cordycepin production by submerged fermentation of C. militaris. In addition, a synergistic effect on cordycepin production was also observed in combinatorial applications of two additives. Moreover, in the combinatorial application, adenine was much better than adenosine, especially the combinatorial formula of 1 g/L adenine and 8 g/L glycine, which resulted in a cordycepin production of 1644.21 mg/L, exhibiting a 4.66-fold increase than that obtained in the basal medium culture. The analysis of nucleic acid-related compounds obtained by various cultures indicated that 80% cordycepin synthesized by C. militaris was secreted in the culture broth. The whole metabolism system for nucleic acids were linked to each other so that most nucleic acidrelated compounds could directly or indirectly participate in the production of cordycepin.

Key words: Cordyceps militaris, submerged culture, additives, optimization, cordycepin