title: A cell factory of Bacillus subtilis engineered for the simple bioconversion of myo-inositol to scyllo-inositol, a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A stereoisomer of inositol, scyllo-inositol, is known as a promising therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease, since it prevents the accumulation of beta-amyloid deposits, a hallmark of the disease. However, this compound is relatively rare in nature, whereas another stereoisomer of inositol, myo-inositol, is abundantly available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacillus subtilis possesses a unique inositol metabolism involving both stereoisomers. We manipulated the inositol metabolism in B. subtilis to permit the possible bioconversion from myo-inositol to scyllo-inositol. Within 48 h of cultivation, the engineered strain was able to convert almost half of 10 g/L myo-inositol to scyllo-inositol that accumulated in the culture medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The engineered B. subtilis serves as a prototype of cell factory enabling a novel and inexpensive supply of scyllo-inositol.
authors: Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657 8501, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Yamaoka
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Osawa
authors: Tetsuro
authors: T
authors: Morinaga
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Takenaka
authors: Ken-ichi
authors: K
authors: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009154:Mutation; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: C009217:scyllitol; D007294:Inositol