Effects of methanol concentration on expression levels of recombinant protein in fed-batch cultures of Pichia methanolica.

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia methanolica can be used to express recombinant genes at high levels under the control of the methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AUG1) promoter. Methanol concentrations during the induction phase directly affect cellular growth and protein yield. Various methanol concentrations controlled by an on-line monitoring and control system were investigated in mixed glucose/methanol fed-batch cultures of P.