title: Role of aminotransferase IlvE in production of branched-chain fatty acids by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the role of a lactococcal branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase gene, ilvE, in the production of branched-chain fatty acids. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LM0230 and an ilvE deletion mutant, JLS450, produced branched-chain fatty acids from amino and alpha-keto acids at levels above alpha-keto acid spontaneous degradation and the fatty acids' flavor thresholds. The deletion mutant produced the same amounts of branched-chain fatty acids from precursor amino acids as did the parent. This was not the case, however, for the production of branched-chain fatty acids from the corresponding precursor alpha-keto acids. The deletion mutant produced a set of fatty acids different from that produced by the parent. We concluded from these observations that ilvE plays a role in the specific type of fatty acids produced but has little influence on the total amount of fatty acids produced by lactococci.
authors.affiliation: Western Dairy Center, Center for Microbe Detection and Physiology, Center for Integrated BioSystems, and Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-8700, USA.
authors.forename: Balasubramanian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: Bart C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Weimer
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D000637:Transaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D000637:Transaminases; C019798:branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase