Sustained Production of Amino Acids by Immobilized Analogue-resistant Mutants of a Cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans BD-1

Batch cultures of Anacystis nidulans BD-1 resistant to azaleucine and fluorotyrosine produced and liberated a wide range of amino acids, notably glutamic acid, alanine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, cysteine and methionine. Sustained liberation for prolonged periods was achieved after immobilization on calcium alginate and the net concentration in the medium was 0.18-0.2 g 1^-1. While acetohydroxy acid synthase in azaleucine-resistant mutant lost leucine- and isoleucine-sensitivity, fluorotyrosine-resistant strain turned phenylalanine activating. The activities of nitrate assimilating enzymes were also higher in the mutants and were relaxed from ammonium-repression. The metabolic adjustments involved in amino acid overproduction are discussed.