title: Isolation of Bacillus subtilis (chungkookjang), a poly-gamma-glutamate producer with high genetic competence.
abstract: A bacterium with high poly-gamma-glutamate (PGA) productivity was isolated from the traditional Korean seasoning, Chung-Kook-Jang. This bacterium could be classified as a Bacillus subtilis, but sporulation in culture was infrequent in the absence of Mn2+. It was judged to be a variety of B. subtilis and designated B. subtilis (chungkookjang). L-Glutamate significantly induced PGA production, and highly elongated PGAs were synthesized. The volumetric yield reached 13.5 mg ml(-1) in the presence of 2% L-glutamate. The D-glutamate content was over 50% in every PGA produced under the conditions used. During PGA production, glutamate racemase activity was found in the cells, suggesting that the enzyme is involved in the D-glutamate supply. Molecular sizes of PGAs were changed by the salt concentration in the medium; PGAs with comparatively low molecular masses were produced in culture media containing high concentrations of NaCl. B. subtilis (chungkookjang) harbors no plasmid and is the first B. subtilis strain reported with both naturally high PGA productivity and high genetic competence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresources Science, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan. ashiuchi@cc.kochi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashiuchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Misono
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000591:Amino Acid Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051263:D-Alanine Transaminase; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013025:Glycine max / Q000382:microbiology; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D051263:D-Alanine Transaminase; D000591:Amino Acid Isomerases; C062292:glutamate racemase