Biochemical Engineering: The complete biosynthesis of thebaine , W=311.4 ) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast; H₁.₈₃ ₁.₈₃ ₀.₅₆₀.₁₇ ) is described seven years ago. Once mature, this technology may provide an alternative for synthesizing painkillers such as codeine and oxycodone. I would now like you to think about a commercial fermentation process for producing thebaine using this engineered yeast strain. Glucose (₆H₁₂₆,W=180) and ammonia (H3) will be our main carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. We have determined that the cell yield on glucose (x/) is 0.13 cell/g glucose, while the product yield on glucose ( P/ ) is 0.1 thebaine/g glucose.
a. Assuming that cell growth and thebaine production occurred simultaneously, calculate a balanced stoichiometric reaction for this biological process. ( 92% of the S. cerevisiae dry cell weight is composed of ,H,, and . Their atomic
masses are 12,1,16 and 14 , respectively.)