Bacteria Genomes - CORYNEBACTERIUM GLUTAMICUM

Coryneform bacteria are rod-shaped, fast growing, non-sporulating Gram-positive bacteria that enjoy widespread distribution. One of the non-pathogenic species of coryneform bacteria, Corynebacterium glutamicum, was discovered in the 1950s in Japan as natural producer of glutamic acid. It is now produced by direct fermentation used for industrial production of amino acids which are used as flavour enhancers in food.

Corynebacterium glutamicum is of high industrial interest as a research object because it is used by the chemical industry for the biotechnological production of the amino acid lysine. The substance is employed as a source of protein in animal nutrition. Lysine is one of the essential amino acids in animal nutrition. Biotechnologically produced lysine is added to feed concentrates as a source of protein, and is an alternative to soybeans or meat and bonemeal. In 2000, more than 450,000 metric tons of lysine were sold worldwide, representing a value of about 660 million Euros.

References:

www.integratedgenomics.com/
http://www.tigr.org/tigr-scripts/CMR2/GenomePage3.spl?database=ntcg01
http://www.genetik.uni-bielefeld.de/Genetik/coryne/coryne.eng.html
BMC Biotechnology 1: 9 (2001)
J Biotechnol 104 (1-3):5-25 (2003)