HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Assay for Quantitative Metabolic Profiling in Fermentation Broths from β–Lactam Antibiotics Production

Recent efforts for the optimization of biotechnological production processes such as for β-lactam antibiotics comprise, amongst others, metabolomics-based methodologies. In metabolic profiling approaches it is aimed at measuring quantitatively time-dependent concentration profiles of intra- and extracellular metabolites, nutrients, target product compounds and their intermediates. It is the goal to monitor concentration variations of as many substances as possible in the course of fermentation processes with adequate sampling at regular reasonably short time intervals, allowing to draw conclusions on the progression of the fermentation. Information gained from such analytical measurements should ultimately lead to better understanding of the production process and improvements in the productivity.