Diacetyl and alpha-acetolactate overproduction by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis mutants that are deficient in alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase and have a low lactate dehydrogenase activity
Monnet, C.; Aymes, F.; Corrieu, G.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66(12): 5518-5520
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0099-2240
PMID: 11097941
DOI: 10.1128/aem.66.12.5518-5520.2000
Accession: 011949319
Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis strains are utilized in several industrial processes for producing the flavoring compound diacetyl or its precursor alpha-acetolactate. Using random mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine, we selected mutants that were deficient in alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase and had low lactate dehydrogenase activity. The mutants produced large amounts of alpha-acetolactate in anaerobic milk cultures but not in aerobic cultures, except when the medium was supplemented with catalase, yeast extract, or hemoglobin.