Retrospective techniques are not only time restrictive, but also ignore any effects that interaction among various biophysical and nutritional parameters may have [14]. It is necessary to optimize the conditions for CX-producing mutant strains to explore their industrial potential. Optimization of microbial strains for the overproduction of industrial products has been the hallmark of all commercial selleck chemical bioderived production processes [15]. Traditionally, improvement of bioactive compound yields in wild-type strains has been achieved through

ultraviolet (UV) mutagenesis, selection of naturally occurring mutants, or genetic recombination. In recent years, the term irradiation technology has also been used to refer to novel techniques such as X-rays, ionizing irradiation, and heavy-ion irradiation. Heavy-ion beam irradiation is a type of high linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation that bombards the target with higher energy. Such irradiation usually relies on different doses of irradiation to kill the vast majority of the bacterial cells [16–19]. Following irradiation, the surviving microbes may often contain one or more mutations. selleck chemicals For a very small percentage of

the survivors the mutation may lead to an improved ability to produce a specific metabolite. Irradiation of bacteria to produce mutant strains that result in the overproduction of primary or secondary metabolites is an intricate process. The successful development of D. natronolimnaea svgcc1.2736 mutant strains for example requires knowledge of biophysics, microbiology, cell dynamics and physiology, optimization and control of process parameters, and the design of creative fermentation processes [20–22]. The production of microbial CX is generally carried out through fermentation processes. Such processes provide an excellent system for the large-scale production of carotenoids in general because of their ease of manipulation [23, 24]. D. natronolimnaea svgcc1.2736 strains have

an advantage over other natural bioresources, as the fermentation process can be easily controlled to achieve higher growth rates and greater cell RG7420 supplier density without infringing on production constraints such as space and time. Studies have shown that maximum production potential of a microbial species can be induced using a number of different approaches. These include supplementation of carotenoid stimulating factor to support enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways, empirical optimization of environmental culture conditions through statistical experimental designs, use of stirrer fermenters to boost continuous production of cells in suspension, use of immobilized cell fermenters, screening and selection of optimal procedures for separation, purification, and membrane processing, and the preparation of mutants necessary for genetic engineering and gene expression techniques [25–27]. Detailed measurements of carotenoid and CX levels I-BET-762 purchase produced by D.