MICROBIAL PRODUCTION OF AMINO ACIDS . I. DL-ALANINE PRODUCTION BY AN ARTHROBACTER SPECIES

Abstract

One hundred and fifreen Arthrobacter strains isolated from soils, sewage and activated sludge, were screened for their production of amino acids when grown in a simple basal salts medum with glucose and urea Thirtytwo isolatesproduced significant amounts of alanine and glutamic acid along with traces of other amino acids. Seven of these isolates produced large amounts of alanine into the mecdium, of which isolate C19 d was selected for detciled study. Under optimal cultural conditions on  the Inborotory scule, a muximal production of 13 g of alanine per lirre of the medium was obtained. Alanine was recovered in a crystalline form from the broth quantatively by column chromatographic method.