L-alanine auxotrophy of Lactobacillus johnsonii as demonstrated by physiological, genomic, and gene complementation approaches.

ABSTRACT: Using a chemically defined medium without L-alanine, Lactobacillus johnsonii was demonstrated to be strictly auxotrophic for that amino acid. A comparative genetic analysis showed that all known genes involved in L-alanine biosynthesis are absent from the genome of L. johnsonii. This auxotrophy was complemented by heterologous expression of the Bacillus subtilis L-alanine dehydrogenase.

SUBMITTER: van der Kaaij H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC368417 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature