WO2007119890A1 - A METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN L-AMINO ACID USING A BACTERIUM OF THE ENTEROBACTERIACEAE FAMILY WITH ATTENUATED EXPRESSION OF THE sfmACDFH-fimZ CLUSTER OR THE fimZ GENE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster and/or the fimZ gene.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN L-AMINO ACID USING A BACTERIUM OF THE ENTEROBACTERIACEAE FAMILY WITH ATTENUATED EXPRESSION OF THE sfmACDFH-fimZ CLUSTER OR TΗEfimZ GENE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the microbiological industry, and specifically to a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family which has been modified to attenuate expression of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene.

Bacground Art

Conventionally, L-amino acids are industrially produced by fermentation methods utilizing strains of microorganisms obtained from natural sources, or mutants thereof. Typically, the microorganisms are modified to enhance production yields of L-amino acids.

Many techniques to enhance L-amino acid production yields have been reported, including transformation of microorganisms with recombinant DNA (see, for example, US patent No. 4,278,765). Other techniques for enhancing production yields include increasing the activities of enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and/or desensitizing the target enzymes of the feedback inhibition by the resulting L-amino acid (see, for example, WO 95/16042 or US patent Nos. 4,346,170; 5,661,012 and 6,040,160).

Another way to enhance L-amino acid production yields is to attenuate expression of a gene or several genes encoding protein(s) involved in degradation of the target L- amino acid, involved in diverting the precursors of the target L-amino acid from the L- amino acid biosynthetic pathway, involved in the redistribution of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate fluxes, and genes encoding toxins etc..

The sfmA gene encodes the SfmA protein, which is a putative fimbrial-like protein. The sfinC gene encodes the SfmC protein, which is a putative shaperone. The sfmD gene encodes the SfmD protein, which is a putative outer membrane protein. The sfmH gene encodes the SfmH protein, which is a putative protein involved fimbrial assembly. The sfmF gene encodes the SfmF protein, which is a putative fimbrial-like protein. The flmZ gene encodes the FimZ protein, which is a putative transcriptional regulator (http://ecocyc.org).

But currently, there have been no reports of attenuating expression of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene for the purpose of producing L-amino acids. Summary of the Invention

Objects of the present invention include enhancing the productivity of L-amino acid-producing strains and providing a method for producing an L-amino acid using these strains.

The above objects were achieved by finding that attenuating expression of the sfmACDFH-flmZ cluster or the fimZ gene can enhance production of L-amino acids, such as L-threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L- histidine, glycine, L-serine, L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L- glutamic acid, L-proline, L-arginine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan.

The present invention provides a bacterium of the Enter obacteriaceae family having an increased ability to produce amino acids, such as L-threonine, L-lysine, L- cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-histidine, glycine, L-serine, L- alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, L-arginine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an L-amino acid-producing bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium has been modified to attenuate expression of a gene selected from a group consisting of sfmACDFH-fimZ and fimZ.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein the expression is attenuated by inactivation of the gene.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein the bacterium belongs to the genus Escherichia.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein the bacterium belongs to the genus Pantoea.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein said L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic L- amino acid and a non-aromatic L-amino acid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein said aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L- phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bacterium as described above, wherein said non-aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L- threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L- histidine, glycine, L-serine, L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L- glutamic acid, L-proline, and L-arginine. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for producing an L-amino acid comprising:

- cultivating the bacterium as described above in a medium to produce and excrete said L-amino acid into the medium, and

- collecting said L-amino acid from the medium.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the method as described above, wherein said L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic L- amino acid and a non-aromatic L-amino acid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the method as described above, wherein said aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L- phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the method as described above, wherein said non-aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L- threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L- histidine, glycine, L-serine, L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L- glutamic acid, L-proline, and L-arginine.

The present invention is described in detail below.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 1. Bacterium of the present invention

The bacterium of the present invention is an L-amino acid-producing bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium has been modified to attenuate expression of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster or the flmZ gene.

In the present invention, "L-amino acid-producing bacterium" means a bacterium which has an ability to produce and excrete an L-amino acid into a medium, when the bacterium is cultured in the medium.

The term "L-amino acid-producing bacterium" as used herein also means a bacterium which is able to produce and cause accumulation of an L-amino acid in a culture medium in an amount larger than a wild-type or parental strain of the bacterium, for example, E. coli, such as E. coli K- 12, and preferably means that the bacterium is able to cause accumulation in the medium of an amount not less than 0.5 g/L, more preferably not less than 1.0 g/L, of the target L-amino acid. The term "L-amino acid" includes L-alanine, L-arginine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, glycine, L-histidine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L- proline, L-serine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, and L-valine.

The term "aromatic L-amino acid" includes L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L- tryptophan. The term "non-aromatic L-amino acid" includes L-threonine, L-lysine, L- cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L- valine, L-histidine, glycine, L-serine, L- alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, and L- arginine. L-threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-leucine, L-histidine, L-glutamic acid, L- phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, L-proline, and L-arginine are particularly preferred.

. The Enterobacteriaceae family includes bacteria belonging to the genera Escherichia, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Photorhabdus, Providencia, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Morganella, Yersinia, etc.. Specifically, those classified into the Enterobacteriaceae according to the taxonomy used by the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) database

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=91347) can be used. A bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia or Pantoea is preferred.

The phrase "a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia" means that the bacterium is classified into the genus Escherichia according to the classification known to a person skilled in the art of microbiology. Examples of a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia as used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, Escherichia coli (E. colϊ).

The bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, however for example, bacteria described by Neidhardt, F.C. et al. {Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C., 1208, Table 1) are encompassed by the present invention.

The phrase "a bacterium belonging to the genus Pantoea" means that the bacterium is classified as the genus Pantoea according to the classification known to a person skilled in the art of microbiology. Some species of Enterobacter agglomerans have been recently re-classified into Pantoea agglomerans, Pantoea ananatis, Pantoea stewartii or the like, based on the nucleotide sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, etc. (Int. J. Syst. Bacterid., 43, 162-173 (1993)).

The phrase "bacterium has been modified to attenuate expression of a gene selected from a group consisting of sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster and^zmZ gene" means that the bacterium has been modified in such a way that the modified bacterium contains a reduced amount of any of the SfmA, SfmC, SfmD, SfmH, SfmF, and FimZ proteins, as compared with an unmodified bacterium, or is unable to synthesize one of, any combination of, or even all of these proteins. The phrase "bacterium has been modified to attenuate expression of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster or the flmZ gene" also means that the target gene is modified in such a way that the modified genes encode a mutant SfmA, SfmC, SfmD, SfmH, SfmF, or FimZ protein which has a decreased activity

The phrase "inactivation of the gene" means that the modified gene encodes a completely non-functional protein. It is also possible that the modified DNA region is unable to naturally express the gene due to the deletion of a part of the gene or of the gene entirely, the shifting of the reading frame of the gene, the introduction of missense/nonsense mutation(s), or the modification of an adjacent region of the gene, including sequences controlling gene expression, such as promoters, enhancers, attenuators, ribosome-binding sites, etc.. The presence or absence of the sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene in the chromosome of a bacterium can be detected by well-known methods, including PCR, Southern blotting, and the like. In addition, the the level of gene expression can be estimated by measuring the amount of mRNA transcribed from the gene using various known methods including Northern blotting, quantitative RT-PCR, and the like.

The amount of the proteins encoded by the genes of sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster can be measured by well-known methods, including SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting assay (Western blotting analysis) and the like.

The sfinACDFH-fimZ cluster includes the sfinACDFH operon and the fimZ gene.

The sfinACDFH operon includes genes in the following order.

The sfinA gene (synonym -b0530) encodes a putative fimbrial-like protein (synonyms-SfmA, B0530). The sfmA gene of E. coli (nucleotide positions 557,402 to557,977; GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the folD and sfinC genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the sfmA gene and the amino acid sequence of SfmA encoded by the sfmA gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively.

The sfmC gene (synonym - bO531) encodes a putative shaperon (synonyms-SfmC, B0531). The sfmC gene of E. coli (nucleotide positions 558,197 to 558,889; GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the sfmA and sfinD genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the sfmC gene and the amino acid sequence of SfmC encoded by the sfinC gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively.

The sfmD gene (synonym -bO532) encodes a putative outer membrane protein with export function (synonyms-SfmD, B0532). The sfmD gene of E. coli (nucleotide positions 558,920 to 561,523; GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the sfmC and sfmH genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the sfmD gene and the amino acid sequence of SfmD encoded by the sfmD gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6, respectively

The sfinH gene (synonym - bO533) encodes a protein involved in fimbrial assembly (synonyms-SfmH, B0533). The sfmH gene of E. coli (nucleotides 561,565 to 562,542; GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the sfmD and sftnF genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the sfmH gene and the amino acid sequence of SfhiH encoded by the sfmH gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, respectively.

The sfmF gene (synonyms - bO534, ybcG) encodes a putative fimbrial-like protein (synonyms - SftnF, B0534, YbcG, ). The sfinF gene of E. coli (nucleotides 562,553 to 563,068; GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the sfinH and fimZ genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the sfmF gene and the amino acid sequence of SfmF encoded by the sfmF gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 10, respectively.

The fimZ gene (synonyms - bO535, ybcG) encodes a transcriptional regulator(synonyms - FimZ, B0535, YbcA). The fimZ gene of E. coli (nucleotides complementary to nucleotides 563,071 to 563,703 GenBank accession no. NC_000913.2; gi:49175990) is located between the sfmF and argU genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The nucleotide sequence of the fimZ gene and the amino acid sequence of FimZ encoded by the fimZ gene are shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 12, respectively.

Since there may be some differences in DNA sequences between the genera or strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family, the sfmACDFH operon and the fimZ gene to be inactivated on the chromosome are not limited to the genes shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, but may include genes homologous to SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 which encode variant proteins. The phrase "variant protein" as used in the present invention means a protein which has changes in the sequence, whether they are deletions, insertions, additions, or substitutions of amino acids, but still maintains the activity of the protein. The number of changes in the variant protein depends on the position in the three dimensional structure of the protein or the type of amino acid residues. It may be 1 to 30, preferably 1 to 15, and more preferably 1 to 5 in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. These changes in the variants are conservative mutations that preserve the function of the protein. In other words, these changes in the variants can occur in regions of the protein which are not critical for the function of the protein. This is because some amino acids have high homology to one another so the three dimensional structure or activity is not affected by such a change. A conservative mutation is a mutation wherein substitution takes place mutually among Phe, Trp, Tyr, if the substitution site is an aromatic amino acid; among Leu, He, VaI, if the substitution site is a hydrophobic amino acid; between GIn, Asn, if it is a polar amino acid; among Lys, Arg, His, if it is a basic amino acid; between Asp, GIu, if it is an acidic amino acid; and between Ser, Thr, if it is an amino acid having a hydroxyl group. Typical conservative mutations are conservative substitutions. Specific examples of substitutions that are considered to be conservative include: substitution of Ala with Ser or Thr; substitution of Arg with GIn, His, or Lys; substitution of Asn with GIu, GIn, Lys, His, or Asp; substitution of Asp with Asn, GIu₅ or GIn; substitution of Cys with Ser or Ala; substitution of GIn with Asn, GIu, Lys, His, Asp, or Arg; substitution of GIu with GIy, Asn, GIn, Lys, or Asp; substitution of GIy with Pro; substitution of His with Asn, Lys, GIn, Arg, or Tyr; substitution of lie with Leu, Met, VaI, or Phe; substitution of Leu with He, Met, VaI, or Phe; substitution of Lys with Asn, GIu, GIn, His, or Arg; substitution of Met with He, Leu, VaI, or Phe; substitution of Phe with Trp, Tyr, Met, lie, or Leu; substitution of Ser with Thr or Ala; substitution of Thr with Ser or Ala; substitution of Trp with Phe or Tyr; substitution of Tyr with His, Phe, or Trp; and substitution of VaI with Met, He, or Leu. Substitutions, deletions, insertions, additions, or inversions and the like of the amino acids described above include naturally occurred mutations (mutant or variant) depending on differences in species, or individual differences of microorganisms that retain the ybdA gene. Such a gene can be obtained by modifying the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 using, for example, site-directed mutagenesis, so that the site- specific amino acid residue in the protein encoded includes substitutions, deletions, insertions, or additions.

Moreover, the protein variants encoded by the sfmACDFH operon and the flmZ gene may have a homology of not less than 80%, preferably not less than 90%, and most preferably not less than 95%, with respect to the entire amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs.2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 as long as the native activity of SfmA, SfmC, SfmD, SfmH, SfmF and FimZ proteins prior to inactivation are maintained.

Homology between two amino acid sequences can be determined using well-known methods, for example, the computer program BLAST 2.0, which calculates three parameters: score, identity and similarity.

Moreover, genes of the sfmACDFH opexon and the βmZ gene may be variants which hybridize under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 or probes which can be prepared from the nucleotide sequences, provided that functional SfmA, SfmC, SfmD, SfmH, SfmF and FimZ proteins are encoded. "Stringent conditions" include those under which a specific hybrid, for example, a hybrid having homology of not less than 60%, more preferably not less than 70%, further preferably not less than 80%, and still more preferably not less than 90%, and most preferably not less than 95% is formed and a non-specific hybrid, for example, a hybrid having homology lower than the above, is not formed. For example, stringent conditions are exemplified by washing one time or more, preferably two or three times at a salt concentration of IxSSC, 0.1% SDS, preferably 0.1* SSC, 0.1% SDS at 6O⁰C. Duration of washing depends on the type of membrane used for blotting and, as a rale, should be what is recommended by the manufacturer. For example, the recommended duration of washing for the Hybond™ N+ nylon membrane (Amersham) under stringent conditions is 15 minutes. Preferably, washing may be performed 2 to 3 times. The length of the probe may be suitably selected, depending on the hybridization conditions, and usually varies from lOO bp to l kbp.

Expression of the genes of the sfmACDFH opeton and/or the βmZ gene can be attenuated by introducing a mutation into the gene on the chromosome so that the intracellular activity of the protein encoded by the gene is decreased as compared to an unmodified strain. Such a mutation can be the replacement of one base or more to cause an amino acid substitution in the protein encoded by the gene (missense mutation), introduction of a stop codon (nonsense mutation), deletion of one or two bases to cause a frame shift, insertion of a drug-resistance gene, or deletion of apart of the gene or the entire gene (Qiu, Z. and Goodman, M.F., J. Biol. Chem., 272, 8611-8617 (1997); Kwon, D. H. et al, J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 46, 793-796 (2000)). Expression of the genes of the sfmACDFH operon and/or the fimZ gene can also be attenuated by modifying an expression regulating sequence such as the promoter, the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence, etc. (WO95/34672, Carrier, T. A. and Keasling, J.D., Biotechnol Prog 15, 58-64 (1999)).

For example, the following methods may be employed to introduce a mutation by gene recombination. A mutant gene encoding a mutant protein having a decreased activity is prepared, and a bacterium is transformed with a DNA fragment containing the mutant gene. Then, the native gene on the chromosome is replaced with the mutant gene by homologous recombination, and the resulting strain is selected. Such gene replacement by homologous recombination can be conducted by employing a linear DNA, which is known as "Red-driven integration" (Datsenko, K. A. and Wanner, B. L., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 97, 12, p 6640-6645 (2000)), or by methods employing a plasmid containing a temperature-sensitive replication (U.S. Patent 6,303,383 or JP 05-007491A). Furthermore, the incorporation of a site-specific mutation by gene substitution using homologous recombination such as set forth above can also be conducted with a plasmid lacking the ability to replicate in the host.

Expression of the gene can also be attenuated by insertion of a transposon or an IS factor into the coding region of the gene (U.S. Patent No. 5,175,107), or by conventional methods, such as mutagenesis with UV irradiation or nitrosoguanidine (N-methyl-N'-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine) treatment.

Inactivation of the gene can be also performed by conventional methods, such as mutagenesis with UV irradiation or nitrosoguanidine (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N- nitrosoguanidine) treatment, site-directed mutagenesis, gene disruption using homologous recombination, or/and insertion-deletion mutagenesis (Yu, D. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97:12: 5978-83 and Datsenko, K. A. and Wanner, B.L., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97:12: 6640-45) also called "Red-driven integration". Functional properties are not known for any of the proteins encoded by the sfinA gene, the sfinC gene, the sfinD gene, the sfmH gene, the sfinF gene and ihefimZ gene. The presence or absence of the sftnA gene, the sfmC gene, the sfinD gene, the sfmH gene, the sfinF gene or the fimZ gene in the chromosome of a bacterium can be detected by well- known methods, including PCR, Southern blotting, and the like. In addition, the level of gene expression can be estimated by measuring the amount of mRNA transcribed from the sfinA gene, the sfmC gene, the sfinD gene, the sfmH gene, the sfinF gene or theyzwZ gene using various well-known methods, including Northern blotting, quantitative RT-PCR, and the like. The amount of the protein encoded by the sfmA gene, the sfmC gene, the sfinD gene, the sfmH gene, the sfinF gene or the fimZ gene can be measured by well-known methods, including SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting assay (Western blotting analysis) and the like.

Methods for preparation of plasmid DNA, digestion and ligation of DNA, transformation, selection of an oligonucleotide as a primer, and the like may be ordinary methods well-known to one skilled in the art. These methods are described, for instance, in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., and Maniatis, T., "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989).

L-amino acid-producing bacteria

As a bacterium of the present invention which is modified to attenuate expression of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene, bacteria which are able to produce either aromatic or non-aromatic L-amino acids may be used.

The bacterium of the present invention can be obtained by attenuating expression of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene in a bacterium which inherently has the ability to produce L-amino acids. Alternatively, the bacterium of present invention can be obtained by imparting the ability to produce L-amino acids to a bacterium already having the attenuated expression of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster or the fimZ gene.

L-threonine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-threonine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli TDH-6/pVIC40 (VKPM B-3996) (U.S. Patent No. 5, 175, 107, U.S. Patent No. 5,705,371), E. coli 472T23/pYN7 (ATCC 98081) (U.S. Patent No.5,631,157), E. coli NRRL-21593 (U.S. Patent No. 5,939,307), E. coli FERM BP-3756 (U.S. Patent No. 5,474,918), E. coli FERM BP-3519 and FERM BP-3520 (U.S. Patent No. 5,376,538), E. coli MG442 (Gusyatiner et al., Genetika (in Russian), 14, 947-956 (1978)), E. coli VL643 and VL2055 (EP 1149911 A), and the like. The strain TDH-6 is deficient in the thrC gene, as well as being sucrose- assimilative, and the HvA gene has a leaky mutation. This strain also has a mutation in the rhtA gene, which imparts resistance to high concentrations of threonine or homoserine. The strain B-3996 contains the plasmid pVIC40 which was obtained by inserting a thrA*BC operon which includes a mutant thrA gene into a RSFlOlO-derived vector. This mutant thrA gene encodes aspartokinase homoserine dehydrogenase I which has substantially desensitized feedback inhibition by threonine. The strain B-3996 was deposited on November 19, 1987 in the All-Union Scientific Center of Antibiotics (Nagatinskaya Street 3-A, 117105 Moscow, Russian Federation) under the accession number RIA 1867. The strain was also deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow 1, Dorozhny proezd. 1) on April 7, 1987 under the accession number VKPM B-3996.

E. coli VKPM B-5318 (EP 0593792B) may also be used as a parent strain for deriving L-threonine-producing bacteria of the present invention. The strain B-5318 is prototrophic with regard to isoleucine, and a temperature-sensitive lambda-phage Cl repressor and PR promoter replaces the regulatory region of the threonine operon in plasmid pVIC40. The strain VKPM B-5318 was deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) on May 3, 1990 under accession number of VKPM B-5318.

Preferably, the bacterium of the present invention is additionally modified to enhance expression of one or more of the following genes: the mutant thrA gene which codes for aspartokinase homoserine dehydrogenase I resistant to feed back inhibition by threonine; the thrB gene which codes for homoserine kinase; the thrC gene which codes for threonine synthase; the rhtA gene which codes for a putative transmembrane protein; the asd gene which codes for aspartate-β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase; and the aspC gene which codes for aspartate aminotransferase (aspartate transaminase);

The thrA gene which encodes aspartokinase homoserine dehydrogenase I of Escherichia coli has been elucidated (nucleotide positions 337 to 2799, GenBank accession NC_000913.2, gi: 49175990). The thrA gene is located between the thrL and thrB genes on the chromosome of E. coli K- 12. The thrB gene which encodes homoserine kinase of Escherichia coli has been elucidated (nucleotide positions 2801 to 3733, GenBank accession NC_000913.2, gi: 49175990). The thrB gene is located between the thrA and thrC genes on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. The thrC gene which encodes threonine synthase of Escherichia coli has been elucidated (nucleotide positions 3734 to 5020, GenBank accession NC_000913.2, gi: 49175990). The thrC gene is located between the thrB gene and the yaaX open reading frame on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. All three genes functions as a single threonine operon. To enhance expression of the threonine operon, the attenuator region which affects the transcription is desirably removed from the operon (WO2005/049808, WO2003/097839).

A mutant thrA gene which codes for aspartokinase homoserine dehydrogenase I resistant to feed back inhibition by threonine, as well as, the thrB and thrC genes can be obtained as one operon from the well-known plasmid pVIC40 which is presented in the threonine producing E. coli strain VKPM B-3996. Plasmid pVIC40 is described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,705,371.

The rhtA gene exists at 18 min on the E. coli chromosome close to the glnHPQ operon, which encodes components of the glutamine transport system. The rhtA gene is identical to ORFl (ybiF gene, nucleotide positions 764 to 1651, GenBank accession number AAA218541, gi:440181) and is located between the pexB and ompX genes. The unit expressing a protein encoded by the ORFl has been designated the rhtA gene (rht: resistance to homoserine and threonine). Also, it was revealed that the rhtA23 mutation is an A-for-G substitution at position -1 with respect to the ATG start codon (ABSTRACTS of the 17^th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in conjugation with Annual Meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Francisco, California August 24-29, 1997, abstract No. 457, EP 1013765 A).

The asd gene of E. coli has already been elucidated (nucleotide positions 3572511 to 3571408, GenBank accession NC_000913.1, gi:16131307), and can be obtained by PCR (polymerase chain reaction; refer to White, T.J. et al., Trends Genet., 5, 185 (1989)) utilizing primers prepared based on the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The asd genes of other microorganisms can be obtained in a similar manner.

Also, the aspC gene of E. coli has already been elucidated (nucleotide positions 983742 to 984932, GenBank accession NC_000913.1, gi:16128895), and can be obtained by PCR. The aspC genes of other microorganisms can be obtained in a similar manner.

L-lysine-producing bacteria

Examples of L-lysine-producing bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia include mutants having resistance to an L-lysine analogue. The L-lysine analogue inhibits growth of bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia, but this inhibition is fully or partially desensitized when L-lysine coexists in a medium. Examples of the L-lysine analogue include, but are not limited to, oxalysine, lysine hydroxamate, S-(2-aminoethyl)- L-cysteine (AEC), γ-methyllysine, α-chlorocaprolactam and so forth. Mutants having resistance to these lysine analogues can be obtained by subjecting bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia to a conventional artificial mutagenesis treatment. Specific examples of bacterial strains useful for producing L-lysine include Escherichia coli AJl 1442 (FERM BP-1543, NRRL B-12185; see U.S. Patent No. 4,346,170) and Escherichia coli VL611. In these microorganisms, feedback inhibition of aspartokinase by L-lysine is desensitized.

The strain WC 196 may be used as an L-lysine producing bacterium of Escherichia coli. This bacterial strain was bred by conferring AEC resistance to the strain W3110, which was derived from Escherichia coli K- 12. The resulting strain was designated Escherichia coli AJ13069 strain and was deposited at the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (currently National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, International Patent Organism Depositary, Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-Chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566, Japan) on December 6, 1994 and received an accession number of FERM P-14690. Then, it was converted to an international deposit under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on September 29, 1995, and received an accession number of FERM BP-5252 (U.S. Patent No. 5,827,698).

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-lysine-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains in which expression of one or more genes encoding an L- lysine biosynthetic enzyme are enhanced. Examples of such genes include, but are not limited to, genes encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthase (dapA), aspartokinase (lysC), dihydrodipicolinate reductase (dapB), diaminopimelate decarboxylase (lysA), diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (ddh) (U.S. Patent No. 6,040,160), phosphoenolpyrvate carboxylase (ppc), aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenease (asd), and aspartase (aspA) (EP 1253195 A). In addition, the parent strains may have an increased level of expression of the gene involved in energy efficiency (cyo) (EP 1170376 A), the gene encoding nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (pntAB) (U.S. Patent No. 5,830,716), ϋaβybjE gene (WO2005/073390), or combinations thereof.

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-lysine-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains having decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction for generating a compound other than L-lysine by branching off from the biosynthetic pathway of L-lysine. Examples of the enzymes that catalyze a reaction for generating a compound other than L-lysine by brandling off from the biosynthetic pathway of L-lysine include homoserine dehydrogenase, lysine decarboxylase (U.S. Patent No. 5,827,698), and the malic enzyme (WO2005/010175).

L-cysteine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-cysteine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli JMl 5 which is transformed with different cysE alleles coding for feedback- resistant serine acetyltransferases (U.S. Patent No. 6,218,168, Russian patent application 2003121601 ); E. coli W3110 having over-expressed genes which encode proteins suitable for secreting substances toxic for cells (U.S. Patent No. 5,972,663); E. coli strains having lowered cysteine desulfohydrase activity (JPIl 155571 A2); E. coli W3110 with increased activity of a positive transcriptional regulator for cysteine regulon encoded by the cysB gene (WO0127307A1), and the like.

L-leucine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-leucine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli strains resistant to leucine (for example, the strain 57 (VKPM B-7386, U.S. Patent No. 6,124,121)) or leucine analogs including β-2-thienylalanine, 3-hydroxyleucine, 4-azaleucine, 5,5,5-trifluoroleucine (JP 62-34397 B and JP 8-70879 A); E. coli strains obtained by the gene engineering method described in WO96/06926; E. coli H-9068 (JP 8- 70879 A), and the like.

The bacterium of the present invention may be improved by enhancing the expression of one or more genes involved in L-leucine biosynthesis. Examples include genes of the leuABCD operon, which are preferably represented by a mutant leuA gene coding for isopropylmalate synthase freed from feedback inhibition by L-leucine (US Patent No. 6,403,342). In addition, the bacterium of the present invention may be improved by enhancing the expression of one or more genes coding for proteins which excrete L- amino acid from the bacterial cell. Examples of such genes include the b2682 and b2683 genes (ygaZH genes) (EP 1239041 A2).

L-histidine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-histidine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli strain 24 (VKPM B-5945, RU2003677); E. coli strain 80 (VKPM B-7270, RU2119536); E. coli NRRL B-12116 - B12121 (U.S. Patent No. 4,388,405); E. coli H- 9342 (FERM BP-6675) and H-9343 (FERM BP-6676) (U.S. Patent No. 6,344,347); E. coli H-9341 (FERM BP-6674) (EP 1085087); E. coli AI80/pFM201 (U.S. Patent No. 6,258,554) and the like.

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-histidine-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains in which expression of one or more genes encoding an L-histidine biosynthetic enzyme are enhanced. Examples of such genes include genes encoding ATP phosphoribosyltransferase (hisG), phosphoribosyl AMP cyclohydrolase (hisl), phosphoribosyl-ATP pyrophosphohydrolase (hisIE), phosphoribosylformimino-5- aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide isomerase (hisA), amidotransferase (hisH), histidinol phosphate aminotransferase (hisC), histidinol phosphatase (hisB), histidinol dehydrogenase (hisD), and so forth.

It is known that the L-histidine biosynthetic enzymes encoded by MsG and hisBHAFI are inhibited by L-histidine, and therefore an L-histidine-producing ability can also be efficiently enhanced by introducing a mutation conferring resistance to the feedback inhibition into ATP phosphoribosyltransferase (Russian Patent Nos. 2003677 and 2119536).

Specific examples of strains having an L-histidine-producing ability include E. coli FERM P-5038 and 5048 which have been introduced with a vector carrying a DNA encoding an L-histidine-biosynthetic enzyme (JP 56-005099 A), E. coli strains introduced with rht, a gene for an amino acid-export (EPl 016710A), E. coli 80 strain imparted with sulfaguanidine, DL-l,2,4-triazole-3-alanine, and streptomycin-resistance (VKPM B-7270, Russian Patent No. 2119536), and so forth.

L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli VL334thrC⁺ (EP 1172433). E. coli VL334 (VKPM B-1641) is an L- isoleucine and L-threonine auxotrophic strain having mutations in thrC and UvA genes (U.S. Patent No. 4,278,765). A wild-type allele of the thrC gene was transferred by the method of general transduction using a bacteriophage Pl grown on the wild-type E. coli strain K12 (VKPM B-7) cells. As a result, an L-isoleucine auxotrophic strain VL334thrC⁺ (VKPM B-8961), which is able to produce L-glutamic acid, was obtained.

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains in which expression of one or more genes encoding an L-glutamic acid biosynthetic enzyme are enhanced. Examples of such genes include genes encoding glutamate dehydrogenase (gdhA), glutamine synthetase (glnA), glutamate synthetase (gltAB), isocitrate dehydrogenase (icdA), aconitate hydratase (acnA, acnB), citrate synthase (gltA), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc), pyruvate carboxylase ipyc), pyruvate dehydrogenase (aceEF, ipdA), pyruvate kinase (pykA,pykF), phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (ppsA), enolase (eno), phosphoglyceromutase (pgmA, pgrnl), phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk), glyceraldehyde-3-phophate dehydrogenase (gapA), triose phosphate isomerase (tpiA), fructose bisphosphate aldolase (fbp), phosphofructokinase (pβA, pflcB), and glucose phosphate isomerase (pgi). Examples of strains modified so that expression of the citrate synthetase gene, the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene, and/aor the glutamate dehydrogenase gene is/are enhanced include those disclosed in EP1078989A, EP955368A, and EP952221A.

Examples of strains modified so that expression of the citrate synthetase gene, the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene, and/or the glutamate dehydrogenase gene is/are enhanced include those disclosed in EP1078989A, EP955368A, and EP952221A.

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains having decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of a compound other than L-glutamic acid by branching off from an L-glutamic acid biosynthesis pathway. Examples of such enzymes include isocitrate lyase (aceA), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (sucA), phosphotransacetylase (pta), acetate kinase (ack), acetohydroxy acid synthase (UvG), acetolactate synthase (UvI), formate acetyltransferase (pfl), lactate dehydrogenase (Idh), and glutamate decarboxylase (gadAB). Bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia deficient in α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity or having a reduced α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity and methods for obtaining them are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,378,616 and 5,573,945. Specifically, these strains include the following:

E. coli W311 OsucA: :Kmr

E. coli AJ12624 (FERM BP-3853)

E. coli AJ12628 (FERM BP-3854)

E. coli AJ12949 (FERM BP-4881)

E. coli W311 OsucA: :Km^R is a strain obtained by disrupting the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase gene (hereinafter referred to as "sucA gene") of E. coli W3110. This strain is completely deficient in the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Other examples of L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium include those which belong to the genus Escherichia and have resistance to an aspartic acid antimetabolite. These strains can also be deficient in α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity and include, for example, E. coli AJ13199 (FERM BP-5807) (U.S. Patent No. 5.908,768), FFRM P- 12379, which additionally has a low L-glutamic acid decomposing ability (U.S. Patent No. 5,393,671); AJ13138 (FERM BP-5565) (U.S. Patent No. 6,110,714), and the like.

Examples of L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria, include mutant strains belonging to the genus Pantoea which are deficient in α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity or have decreased α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity, and can be obtained as described above. Such strains include Pantoea ananatis AJ13356. (U.S. Patent No. 6,331,419). Pantoea ananatis AJ13356 was deposited at the National Institute of Bioscience and Human- Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, International Patent Organism Depositary, Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-Chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566, Japan) on February 19, 1998 under an accession number of FERM P- 16645. It was then converted to an international deposit under the provisions of Budapest Treaty on January 11, 1999 and received an accession number of FERM BP- 6615. Pantoea ananatis AJl 3356 is deficient in the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as a result of disruption of the αKGDH-El subunit gene {sue A). The above strain was identified as Enterobacter agglomerans when it was isolated and deposited as the Enter obacter agglomerans AJl 3356. However, it was recently re-classified as Pantoea ananatis on the basis of nucleotide sequencing of 16S rRNA and so forth. Although AJl 3356 was deposited at the aforementioned depository as Enterobacter agglomerans, for the purposes of this specification, they are described as Pantoea ananatis.

L-phenylalanine-producinR bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-phenylalanine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli AJ12739 (tyrA::TnlO, tyrR) (VKPM B-8197); E. coli HW1089 (ATCC 55371) harboring the mutant pheA34 gene (U.S. Patent No. 5,354,672); E. coli MWEC101-b (KR8903681); E. coli NRRL B-12141, NRRL B-12145, NRRL B-12146 and NRRL B-12147 (U.S. Patent No. 4,407,952). Also, as a parent strain, E. coli K-12 [W3110 (tyrA)/pPHAB (FERM BP-3566), E. coli K-12 [W3110 (tyrA)/pPHAD] (FERM BP- 12659), E. coli K-12 [W3110 (tyrA)/pPHATerm] (FERM BP-12662) and E. coli K-12 [W3110 (tyrA)/pBR-aroG4, pACMAB] named as AJ 12604 (FERM BP-3579) may be used (EP 488424 Bl). Furthermore, L-phenylalanine producing bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia with an enhanced activity of the protein encoded by the yedA gene or ϋaeyddG gene may also be used (U.S. patent applications 2003/0148473 Al and 2003/0157667 Al).

L-trvptophan-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-tryptophan-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli JP4735/pMU3028 (DSM10122) and JP6015/pMU91 (DSM10123) deficient in the tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase encoded by mutant trpS gene (U.S. Patent No. 5,756,345); E. coli SVl 64 (pGH5) having a serA allele encoding phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase free from feedback inhibition by serine and a tr-pE allele encoding anthranilate synthase free from feedback inhibition by tryptophan (U.S. Patent No. 6,180,373); E. coli AGX17 (pGX44) (NRRL B-12263) and AGX6(pGX50)aroP (NPvRL B-12264) deficient in the enzyme tryptophanase (U.S. Patent No. 4,371,614); E. coli AGX17/pGX50,pACKG4-pps in which a phosphoenolpyruvate-producing ability is enhanced (WO9708333, U.S. Patent No. 6,319,696), and the like may be used. L- tryptophan-producing bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia with an enhanced activity of the identified protein encoded by and the yedA gene or the yddG gene may also be used (U.S. patent applications 2003/0148473 Al and 2003/0157667 Al).

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-tryptophan-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains in which one or more activities of the enzymes selected from anthranilate synthase, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, and tryptophan synthase are enhanced. The anthranilate synthase and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase are both subject to feedback inhibition by L-tryptophan and L-serine, so that a mutation desensitizing the feedback inhibition may be introduced into these enzymes. Specific examples of strains having such a mutation include a E. coli SVl 64 which harbors desensitized anthranilate synthase and a transformant strain obtained by introducing into the E. coli SVl 64 the plasmid ρGH5 (WO 94/08031), which contains a mutant serA gene encoding feedback-desensitized phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase.

Examples of parent strains for deriving the L-tryptophan-producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains into which the tryptophan operon which contains a gene encoding desensitized anthranilate synthase has been introduced (JP 57-71397 A, JP 62-244382 A, U.S. Patent No. 4,371,614). Moreover, L-tryptophan-producing ability may be imparted by enhancing expression of a gene which encodes tryptophan synthase, among tryptophan operons (trpBA). The tryptophan synthase consists of α and β subunits which are encoded by the trpA and trpB genes, respectively. In addition, L-tryptophan-producing ability may be improved by enhancing expression of the isocitrate lyase-malate synthase operon (WO2005/103275).

L-proline-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-proline-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli 702ilvA (VKPM B-8012) which is deficient in the HvA gene and is able to produce L-proline (EP 1172433). The bacterium of the present invention may be improved by enhancing the expression of one or more genes involved in L-proline biosynthesis. Examples of such genes for L-proline producing bacteria which are preferred include the proB gene coding for glutamate kinase of which feedback inhibition by L-proline is desensitized (DE Patent 3127361). In addition, the bacterium of the present invention may be improved by enhancing the expression of one or more genes coding for proteins excreting L-amino acid from bacterial cell. Such genes are exemplified by b2682 and b2683 genes (ygaZH genes) (EP1239041 A2). Examples of bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia, which have an activity to produce L-proline include the following E. coli strains: NRRL B-12403 and NRRL B- 12404 (GB Patent 2075056), VKPM B-8012 (Russian patent application 2000124295), plasmid mutants described in DE Patent 3127361, plasmid mutants described by Bloom F.R. et al (The 15^th Miami winter symposium, 1983, p.34), and the like.

L-arginine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-arginine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as E. coli strain 237 (VKPM B-7925) (U.S. Patent Application 2002/058315 Al) and its derivative strains harboring mutant N-acetylglutamate synthase (Russian Patent Application No. 2001112869), E. coli strain 382 (VKPM B-7926) (EPl 170358A1), an arginine-producing strain into which argA gene encoding N-acetylglutamate synthetase is introduced therein (EPl 170361 Al), and the like.

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-arginine producing bacteria of the present invention also include strains in which expression of one or more genes encoding an L- arginine biosynthetic enzyme are enhanced. Examples of such genes include genes encoding N-acetylglutamyl phosphate reductase (argC), ornithine acetyl transferase {argJ), N-acetylglutamate kinase (argB), acetylornithine transaminase (argD), ornithine carbamoyl transferase (argF), argininosuccinic acid synthetase (argG), argininosuccinic acid lyase (argH), and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase {car AB).

L-valine-producing bacteria

Example of parent strains for deriving L-valine-producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, strains which have been modified to overexpress the UvGMEDA operon (U.S. Patent No. 5,998,178). It is desirable to remove the region of the UvGMEDA operon which is required for attenuation so that expression of the operon is not attenuated by the L-valine that is produced. Furthermore, the UvA gene in the operon is desirably disrupted so that threonine deaminase activity is decreased.

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-valine-producing bacteria of the present invention include also include mutants having a mutation of amino-acyl t-RNA synthetase (U.S. Patent No. 5,658,766). For example, E. coli VLl 970, which has a mutation in the UeS gene encoding isoleucine tRNA synthetase, can be used. E. coli VLl 970 has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 113545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny Proezd, 1) on June 24, 1988 under accession number VKPM B-4411. Furthermore, mutants requiring lipoic acid for growth and/or lacking H⁺-ATPaSe can also be used as parent strains (WO96/06926).

L-isoleucine-producing bacteria

Examples of parent strains for deriving L-isoleucine producing bacteria of the present invention include, but are not limited to, mutants having resistance to 6- dimethylaminopurine (JP 5-304969 A), mutants having resistance to an isoleucine analogue such as thiaisoleucine and isoleucine hydroxamate, and mutants additionally having resistance to DL-ethionine and/or arginine hydroxamate (JP 5-130882 A). In addition, recombinant strains transformed with genes encoding proteins involved in L- isoleucine biosynthesis, such as threonine deaminase and acetohydroxate synthase, can also be used as parent strains (JP 2-458 A₅ FR 0356739, and U.S. Patent No. 5,998,178).

2. Method of the present invention

The method of the present invention is a method for producing an L-amino acid by cultivating the bacterium of the present invention in a culture medium to produce and excrete the L-amino acid into the medium, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium.

In the present invention, the cultivation, collection, and purification of an L-amino acid from the medium and the like may be performed in a manner similar to conventional fermentation methods wherein an amino acid is produced using a bacterium.

A medium used for culture may be either a synthetic or natural medium, so long as the medium includes a carbon source and a nitrogen source and minerals and, if necessary, appropriate amounts of nutrients which the bacterium requires for growth. The carbon source may include various carbohydrates such as glucose and sucrose, and various organic acids. Depending on the mode of assimilation of the chosen microorganism, alcohol, including ethanol and glycerol, may be used. As the nitrogen source, various ammonium salts such as ammonia and ammonium sulfate, other nitrogen compounds such as amines, a natural nitrogen source such as peptone, soybean-hydrolysate, and digested fermentative microorganism can be used. As minerals, potassium monophosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium chloride, and the like can be used. As vitamins, thiamine, yeast extract, and the like, can be used.

The cultivation is preferably performed under aerobic conditions, such as a shaking culture, and a stirring culture with aeration, at a temperature of 20 to 40 °C, preferably 30 to 38 °C. The pH of the culture is usually between 5 and 9, preferably between 6.5 and 7.2. The pH of the culture can be adjusted with ammonia, calcium carbonate, various acids, various bases, and buffers. Usually, a 1 to 5-day cultivation leads to accumulation of the target L-amino acid in the liquid medium.

After cultivation, solids such as cells can be removed from the liquid medium by centrifugation or membrane filtration, and then the L-amino acid can be collected and purified by ion-exchange, concentration, and/or crystallization methods.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows the construction of the pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR plasmid, which is used as a template for PCR.

Figure 2 shows the relative positions of primers Pl 7 and Pl 8 on plasmid pACYC184, which is used for PCR amplification of the cat gene.

Figure 3 shows the relative positions of primers P21 and P22 on plasmid pMWl 18-attL- Cm-attR, which is used for PCR amplification of the cat gene. Figure 4 shows the construction of the chromosomal DNA fragment containing the inactivated sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster.

Figure 5 shows the construction of the chromosomal DNA fragment containing the inactivatedyzwZ gene.

Examples

The present invention will be more concretely explained below with reference to the following non-limiting Examples.

Example 1. Preparation of the PCR template and helper plasmids

The PCR template plasmid pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR and the helper plasmid pMW- intxis-ts were prepared as follows:

(1) pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR

The pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR plasmid was constructed on the basis of pMWl 18- attL-Tc-attR that was obtained by ligation of the following four DNA fragments:

1) the BglW-EcoRl fragment (114 bp) carrying attL (SEQ ID NO: 13) which was obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding region of the E. coli W3350 (contained λ prophage) chromosome using oligonucleotides Pl and P2 (SEQ ID NOS: 14 and 15) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for BgIU and EcoRl endonucleases);

2) the Pstl-HindUI fragment (182 bp) carrying attR (SEQ ID NO: 16) which was obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding region of the E. coli W3350 (contained λ prophage) chromosome using the oligonucleotides P3 and P4 (SEQ ID NOS: 17 and 18) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for Pstl and Hindϊll endonucleases); 3) the large Bglϊl-Hindlϊl fragment (3916 bp) of pMWl 18-ter_rrnB. The plasmid pMWl 18-ter_rraδ was obtained by ligation of the following three DNA fragments:

• the large DNA fragment (2359 bp) carrying the Aatll-EcoRl fragment of pMWl 18 that was obtained in the following way: pMWl 18 was digested with EcoRl restriction endonuclease, treated with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I₅ and then digested with Aatll restriction endonuclease;

• the small Aatll-Bglll fragment (1194 bp) of pUC19 carrying the bla gene for ampicillin resistance (Ap^R) was obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding region of the pUC19 plasmid using oligonucleotides P5 and P6 (SEQ ID NOS: 19 and 20) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for Aatlϊ and BgHl endonucleases);

• the small BgHl-Pstlpol fragment (363 bp) of the transcription terminator ter_rmδ was obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding region of the E. coli MG1655 chromosome using oligonucleotides P7 and P8 (SEQ ID NOS: 21 and 22) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for BgHl and Pstl endonucleases);

4) the small EcoRl-Pstl fragment (1388 bp) (SEQ ID NO:23) of pML-Tc-ter_tftrI bearing the tetracycline resistance gene and the texJhrL transcription terminator; the pML-Tc-ter_t/zrZ plasmid was obtained in two steps:

• the pML~ter_//zr/-. plasmid was obtained by digesting the pML-MCS plasmid (Mashko, S. V. et al, Biotekhnologiya (in Russian), 2001, no. 5, 3-20) with the Xbal and BamHl restriction endonucleases, followed by ligation of the large fragment (3342 bp) with the Xbal-BamHl fragment (68 bp) carrying terminator t&cjhrL obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding region of the E. coli MG1655 chromosome using oligonucleotides P9 and PlO (SEQ ID NOS: 24 and 25) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for the Xbal and BamHl endonucleases);

• the pML-Tc-ter_t/zrZ plasmid was obtained by digesting the pML-ter_jJzrZ, plasmid with the Kpήl and Xbal restriction endonucleases followed by treatment with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I and ligation with the small EcoRl-Van91l fragment (1317 bp) of pBR322 bearing the tetracycline resistance gene (pBR322 was digested with EcoRl and Van91l restriction endonucleases and then treated with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I).

The above E. coli W3350 is a derivative of wild-type strain E. coli K-12. The E. coli MGl 655 (ATCC 700926) is a wild-type strain and can be obtained from American Type Culture Collection (P.O. Box 1549 Manassas, VA 20108, United States of America). The plasmids pMWl 18 and pUC19 are commercially available. The Bglll-EcoRl fragment carrying attL and the BgHl-P stl fragment of the transcription terminator teεjrnB can be obtained from other strains of E. coli in the same manner as described above. The pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR. plasmid was constructed by ligation of the large BamHl-Xbal fragment (4413 bp) of pMWl 18-attL-Tc-attR and the artificial DNA BgHl- Xbal fragment (1162 bp) containing the PA2 promoter (the early promoter of the phage T7), the cat gene for chloramphenicol resistance (Cm^R), the ter_thrL transcription terminator, and attR. The artificial DNA fragment (SEQ ID NO:26) was obtained as follows:

1. The pML-MCS plasmid was digested with the Kpril and Xbal restriction endonucleases and ligated with the small Kpnl-Xbal fragment (120 bp), which included the PA₂ promoter (the early promoter of phage T7) obtained by PCR amplification of the corresponding DNA region of phage T7 using oligonucleotides Pl 1 and P12 (SEQ ID NOS: 27 and 28, respectively) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for Kpήl and Xbal endonucleases). As a result, the PML-P_A2-MCS plasmid was obtained. The complete nucleotide sequence of phage T7 has been reported (J. MoI. Biol, 166: 477-535 (1983).

2. The Xbal site was deleted from pML-P_A2-MCS. AS a result, the PML-PA₂- MCS(ZSaI^") plasmid was obtained.

3. The small Bglϊl-Hindlll fragment (928 bp) of pML-PA2-MC S(JSwI^") containing the P_A2 promoter (the early promoter of the phage T7) and the cat gene for chloramphenicol resistance (Cm^R) was ligated with the small Hindlll-HindlU fragment (234 bp) of pMWl 18-attL-Tc-attR containing the tetJhrL transcription terminator and attR.

4. The required artificial DNA fragment (1156 bp) was obtained by PCR amplification of the ligation reaction mixture using oligonucleotides P9 and P4 (SEQ ID NOS: 24 and 18) as primers (these primers contained the subsidiary recognition sites for HmdIII and Xbal endonucleases).

(2) pMW-intxis-ts

Recombinant plasmid pMW-intxis-ts containing the cl repressor gene and the int- xis genes of phage λ under control of promoter P_R was constructed on the basis of vector pMWPi_aclacI-ts. To construct the pMWPi_aclacI-ts variant, the Aatll-EcoRV fragment of the pMWPi_aolacI plasmid (Skorokhodova, A. Yu. et al., Biotekhnologiya (in Russian), 2004, no. 5, 3-21) was substituted with the Aatll-EcoRV fragment of the pMAN997 plasmid (Tanaka, K. et al., J. Bacterid., 2001, 183(22): 6538-6542, WO99/03988) bearing thepar and ori loci and the repA^ts gene (a temperature sensitive-replication origin) of the pSClOl replicon. The plasmid pMAN997 was constructed by exchanging the Vspl-Hindlll fragments of pMAN031 (J. Bacterid., 162, 1196 (1985)) and pUCl9. Two DNA fragments were amplified using phage λ DNA ("Fermentas") as a template. The first one contained the DNA sequence from 37,168 to 38,046, the cl repressor gene, promoters P_RM and PR, and the leader sequence of the cro gene. This fragment was PCR-amplified using oligonucleotides P13 and P14 (SEQ ID NOS: 29 and 30) as primers. The second DNA fragment containing the xis-int genes of phage λ and the DNA sequence from 27801 to 29100 was PCR-amplified using oligonucleotides P15 and P16 (SEQ ID NOS: 31 and 32) as primers. All primers contained the corresponding restriction sites.

The first PCR-amplified fragment carrying the cl repressor was digested with restriction endonuclease Clal, treated with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, and then digested with restriction endonuclease EcoRl. The second PCR-amplified fragment was digested with restriction endonucleases EcoKL and Pstl. The pMWPi_aclacI-ts plasmid was digested with the BgIU. endonuclease, treated with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, and digested with the PM restriction endonuclease. The vector fragment of pMWPlaclacI-ts was eluted from agarose gel and ligated with the above-mentioned digested PCR-amplified fragments to obtain the pMW-intxis-ts recombinant plasmid.

Example 2. Construction of a strain with the inactivated sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster

1. Deletion of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster

A strain with the sfmACDHF-flmZ cluster deleted was constructed by the method initially developed by Datsenko, K. A. and Wanner, B. L. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97(12): 6640-6645) called "Red-driven integration". According to this procedure, the PCR primers P17 (SEQ ID NO: 33) and Pl 8 (SEQ ID NO:34), which are complementary to both the region adjacent to the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster and the gene conferring antibiotic resistance in the template plasmid, were constructed. The plasmid pACYC184 (NBL Gene Sciences Ltd., UK) (GenBank/EMBL accession number X06403) was used as a template in the PCR reaction. Conditions for PCR were as follows: denaturation step: 3 min at 95⁰C; profile for two first cycles: 1 min at 95⁰C, 30 sec at 50⁰C, 40 sec at 72°C; profile for the last 25 cycles: 30 sec at 95°C, 30 sec at 54°C, 40 sec at 72°C; final step: 5 min at 72°C.

A 1152-bp PCR product (Fig. 2) was obtained and purified in agarose gel and was used for electroporation of E. coli MGl 655 (ATCC 700926), which contains the ρKD46 plasmid having temperature-sensitive replication. The pKD46 plasmid (Datsenko, K.A. and Wanner, B.L., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97(12):6640-6645) includes a 2,154- bp DNA fragment of phage λ (nucleotide positions 31088 to 33241, GenBank accession no. J02459), and contains genes of the λ Red homologous recombination system (γ, β, exo genes) under the control of the arabinose-inducible P₃TaB promoter. The plasmid pKD46 is necessary for integration of the PCR product into the chromosome of strain MG1655. The strain MGl 655 can be obtained from American Type Culture Collection. (P.O. Box 1549 Manassas, VA 20108, U.S.A.).

Electrocompetent cells were prepared as follows: E. coli MG1655/pKD46 was grown overnight at 30 °C in LB medium containing ampicillin (100 mg/1), and the culture was diluted 100 times with 5 ml of SOB medium (Sambrook et al, "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) containing ampicillin and L-arabinose (1 mM). The cells were grown with aeration at 30°C to an OD_6O0 of «0.6 and then were made electrocompetent by concentrating 100-fold and washing three times with ice-cold deionized H₂O. Electroporation was performed using 70 μl of cells and «100 ng of the PCR product. Cells after electroporation were incubated with 1 ml of SOC medium (Sambrook et al, "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) at 37°C for 2.5 hours and then were plated onto L-agar containing chloramphenicol (30 μg/ml) and grown at 37°C to select Cm^R recombinants. Then, to eliminate the pKD46 plasmid, two passages on L-agar with Cm at 42⁰C were performed and the colonies were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin.

2. Verification of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster deletion by PCR

The mutants having the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster deleted and marked with the Cm resistance gene were verified by PCR. Locus-specific primers P19 (SEQ ID NO:35) and P20 (SEQ ID NO:36) were used in PCR for the verification. Conditions for PCR verification were as follows: denaturation step: 3 min at 94°C; profile for 30 cycles: 30 sec at 94⁰C, 30 sec at 54⁰C, 1 min at 72°C; final step: 7 min at 72°C. The PCR product obtained in the reaction with the parental sfmACDHF-fimZ ⁺ MGl 655 strain as the template was 6528 bp in length. The PCR product obtained in the reaction with the mutant strain as the template was 1306 bp in length (Fig.4). The mutant strain was named MG1655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat.

Example 3. Production of L-threonine by E. coli strain B-3996-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-flmZ cluster on threonine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat were transferred to the threonine-producing E. coli strain VKPM B-3996 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain B-3996-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ.

Both E. coli strains, B-3996 and B-3996-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ, were grown for 18-24 hours at 37°C on L-agar plates. To obtain a seed culture, the strains were grown on a rotary shaker (250 rpm) at 32°C for 18 hours in 20x200-mm test tubes containing 2 ml of L-broth supplemented with 4% glucose. Then, the fermentation medium was inoculated with 0.21 ml (10%) of seed material. The fermentation was performed in 2 ml of minimal medium for fermentation in 20x200-mm test tubes. Cells were grown for 65 hours at 32°C with shaking at 250 rpm.

After cultivation, the amount of L-threonine which had accumulated in the medium, was determined by paper chromatography using the following mobile phase: butanol - acetic acid - water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (2%) in acetone was used as a visualizing reagent. A spot containing L-threonine was cut out, L-threonine was eluted with 0.5 % water solution Of CdCl₂, and the amount of L-threonine was estimated spectrophotometrically at 540 nm. The results of eight independent test tube fermentations are shown in Table 1. As follows from Table 1, B-3996-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ caused accumulation of a higher amount of L-threonine, as compared with B-3996.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) was as follows:

Glucose 80.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 22.0

NaCl 0.8

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 0.8

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.02

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.02

ThiamineHCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 1.0

CaCO₃ 30.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate were sterilized separately. CaCO₃ was sterilized by dry-heat at 180⁰C for 2 hours. The pH was adjusted to 7.0. The antibiotic was introduced into the medium after sterilization.

Table 1

Example 4. Production of L-lvsine by E. coli AJl 1442-ΔsfmACDHF-fϊmZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on lysine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the lysine-producing E. coli strain AJl 1442 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain AJl 1442-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain AJ14442 was deposited at the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (currently National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, International Patent Organism Depositary, Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-Chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566, Japan) on May 1, 1981 and received an accession number of FERM P-5084. Then, it was converted to an international deposit under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Octobe 29, 1987, and received an accession number of FERM BP- 1543.

Both E. coli strains, AJl 1442 and AJl 1442-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ can be cultured in L- medium at 37°C, and 0.3 ml of the obtained culture can be inoculated into 20 ml of the fermentation medium containing the required drugs in a 500-ml flask. The cultivation can be carried out at 37°C for 16 h by using a reciprocal shaker at the agitation speed of 115 rpm. After the cultivation, the amounts of L-lysine and residual glucose in the medium can be measured by a known method (Biotech-analyzer AS210 manufactured by Sakura Seiki Co.). Then, the yield of L-lysine can be calculated relative to consumed glucose for each of the strains.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 40

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 24

K₂HPO₄ 1.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.01

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.01

Yeast extract 2.0

The pH is adjusted to 7.0 by KOH and the medium is autoclaved at 115°C for 10 min. Glucose and MgSO₄ 7H₂O are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 18O⁰C for 2 hours and added to the medium for a final concentration of 30 g/1.

Example 5. Production of L-cysteine by E. coli JM15fvdeD)-ΔsfmACDHF-iimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-cysteine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MG1655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-cysteine-producing strain JM15(ydeD) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain JM15(ydeD)- ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ.

E. coli JM15(ydeD) is a derivative of E. coli JMl 5 (US Patent No. 6,218,168), which can be transformed with DNA having the ydeD gene encoding a membrane protein, and is not involved in a biosynthetic pathway of any L-amino acid (U.S. Patent No. 5,972,663). The strain JMl 5 (CGSC# 5042) can be obtained from The CoIi Genetic Stock Collection at the E.coli Genetic Resource Center, MCD Biology Department, Yale University (http://cgsc.biology.yale.edu/).

Fermentation conditions for evaluation of L-cysteine production were described in detail in Example 6 of US Patent No. 6,218,168.

Example 6. Production of L-leucine bv E. coli 57-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ

To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-leucine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-leucine-producing strain 57 (VKPM B-7386, US Patent No. 6,124,121) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain 57-pMWΔsfniACDHF-fimZ strain. The strain 57 has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on May 19, 1997 under accession number VKPM B-7386.

Both E. coli strains, 57 and 57-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ, can be cultured for 18-24 hours at 37°C on L-agar plates. To obtain a seed culture, the strains can be grown on a rotary shaker (250 rpm) at 32⁰C for 18 hours in 20x200-mm test tubes containing 2 ml of L-broth supplemented with 4% sucrose. Then, the fermentation medium can be inoculated with 0.21 ml of seed material (10%). The fermentation can be performed in 2 ml of a minimal fermentation medium in 20x200-mm test tubes. Cells can be grown for 48-72 hours at 32⁰C with shaking at 250 rpm. The amount of L-leucine can be measured by paper chromatography (liquid phase composition: butanol - acetic acid - water = 4:1:1).

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) (pH 7.2) is as follows:

Glucose 60.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 25.0

K₂HPO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

Thiamine 0.01

CaCO₃ 25.0

Glucose and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately.

Example 7. Production of L-histidine by E. coli 80-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-histidine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MG1655 ΔsfmACDHF-fϊmZ::cat can be transferred to the histidine-producing E. coli strain 80 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain 80-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain 80 has been described in Russian patent 2119536 and deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on October 15, 1999 under accession number VKPM B-7270 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on July 12, 2004.

Both E. coli strains, 80 and 80-ΔsfmACDHF-fϊmZ, can each be cultured in L-broth for 6 h at 29°C. Then, 0.1 ml of obtained culture can be inoculated into 2 ml of fermentation medium in a 20x200-mm test tube and cultivated for 65 hours at 29°C with shaking on a rotary shaker (350 rpm). After cultivation, the amount of histidine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by paper chromatography. The paper can be developed with a mobile phase consisting of n-butanol : acetic acid : water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (0.5%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows (pH 6.0):

Glucose 100.0

Mameno (soybean hydrolysate) 0.2 of as total nitrogen

L-proline 1.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 25.0

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂0 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂0 0.01

MnSO₄ 0.01

Thiamine 0.001

Betaine 2.0

CaCO₃ 60.0

Glucose, proline, betaine and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately. The pH is adjusted to 6.0 before sterilization.

Example 8. Production of L-glutamate bv E. coli VL334thrC⁺-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-glutamate production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-glutamate-producing strain VL334thrC⁺ (EP 1172433) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain VL334thrC⁺-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain VL334thrC⁺ has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on December 6, 2004 under the accession number VKPM B-8961 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on December 8, 2004. Both strains, VL334thrC⁺ and VL334thrC⁺-ΔsfmACDHF-firnZ, can be grown for 18-24 hours at 37⁰C on L-agar plates. Then, one loop of the cells can be transferred into test tubes containing 2ml of fermentation medium. The fermentation medium contains glucose (60g/l), ammonium sulfate (25 g/1), KH₂PO₄ (2g/l), MgSO₄ (1 g/1), thiamine (0.1 mg/ml), L-isoleucine (70 μg/ml), and CaCO₃ (25 g/1). The pH is adjusted to 7.2. Glucose and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately. Cultivation can be carried out at 3O⁰C for 3 days with shaking. After the cultivation, the amount of L-glutamic acid which is produced can be determined by paper chromatography (liquid phase composition of butanol-acetic acid- water=4: 1:1) with subsequent staining by ninhydrin (1% solution in acetone) and further elution of the compounds in 50% ethanol with 0.5% CdCl₂.

Example 9. Production of L-phenylalanine by E. coli AJ12739-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ

To test the effect of inactivation of the AsfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-phenylalanine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the phenylalanine-producing E. coli strain AJ12739 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain AJ12739-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain AJl 2739 has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on November 6, 2001 under accession no. VKPM B-8197 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on August 23, 2002.

Both strains, AJ12739-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ and AJ12739, can be cultivated at 37°C for 18 hours in a nutrient broth, and 0.3 ml of the obtained culture can each be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium in a 20x200-mm test tube and cultivated at 37°C for 48 hours with shaking on a rotary shaker. After cultivation, the amount of phenylalanine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by TLC. The 10xl5-cm TLC plates coated with 0.11 -mm layers of Sorbfϊl silica gel containing no fluorescent indicator (Stock Company Sorbpolymer, Krasnodar, Russia) can be used. The Sorbfϊl plates can be developed with a mobile phase consisting of propan-2-ol : ethylacetate : 25% aqueous ammonia : water = 40 : 40 : 7 : 16 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (2%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 40.0

(NH_t)₂SO₄ 16.0

K₂HPO₄ 0.1 MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.01

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.01

Thiamine HCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 2.0

Tyrosine 0.125

CaCO₃ 20.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 180° for 2 hours. The pH is adjusted to 7.0.

Example 10. Production of L- tryptophan by E. coli SV164 (pGH5VΔsfinACDHF- fimZ

To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-tryptophan production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfinACDHF-fϊmZ::cat can be transferred to the tryptophan-producing E. coli strain SVl 64 (pGH5) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain SV164(pGH5)- ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain SVl 64 has the trpE allele encoding anthranilate synthase free from feedback inhibition by tryptophan. The plasmid pGH5 harbors a mutant serA gene encoding phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase free from feedback inhibition by serine. The strain SV164 (pGH5) was described in detail in US patent No. 6,180,373 or European patent 0662143.

Both strains, SV164(pGH5)-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ and SV164(pGH5), can be cultivated with shaking at 37°C for 18 hours in 3 ml of nutrient broth supplemented with tetracycline (20 mg/1, marker of pGH5 plasmid). The obtained cultures (0.3 ml each) can be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium containing tetracycline (20 mg/1) in 20 x 200-mm test tubes, and cultivated at 37°C for 48 hours with a rotary shaker at 250 rpm. After cultivation, the amount of tryptophan which accumulates in the medium can be determined by TLC as described in Example 8. The fermentation medium components are listed in Table 2, but should be sterilized in separate groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, and H), as shown, to avoid adverse interactions during sterilization. Table 2

Group A had pH 7.1 adjusted by NH₄OH. Each group is sterilized separately, chilled and then mixed together

Example 11. Production of L-proline by E. coli 702ilvA-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-flmZ cluster on L-proline production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the proline-producing E. coli strain 702ilvA by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain 702ilvA-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain 702ilvA has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on July 18, 2000 under accession number VKPM B-8012 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on May 18, 2001.

Both E. coli strains, 702ilvA and 702ilvA-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ, can be grown for 18- 24 hours at 37°C on L-agar plates. Then, these strains can be cultivated under the same conditions as in Example 8.

Example 12. Production of L-areinine by E. coli 382-ΔsfmACDHF-frmZ To test the effect of inactivation of the sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster on L-arginine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the arginine-producing E. coli strain 382 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain 382-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ. The strain 382 has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on April 1O₅ 2000 under accession number VKPM B-7926 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on May 18, 2001.

Both strains, 382-ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ and 382, can be cultivated with shaking at 37°C for 18 hours in 3 ml of nutrient broth, and 0.3 ml of the obtained cultures can be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium in 20 x 200-mm test tubes and cultivated at 32°C for 48 hours on a rotary shaker.

After the cultivation, the amount of L-arginine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by paper chromatography using the following mobile phase: butanol : acetic acid : water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (2%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent. A spot containing L-arginine can be cut out, L-arginine can be eluted with 0.5% water solution of CdCl₂, and the amount of L-arginine can be estimated spectrophotometrically at 540 nm.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 48.0

(NH4)₂SO₄ 35.0

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

Thiamine HCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 1.0

L-isoleucine 0.1

CaCO₃ 5.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 180 °C for 2 hours. The pH is adjusted to 7.0.

Example 13. Construction of a strain with the inactivated fimZ gene 1. Deletion of the fimZ gene

A strain with thefimZ gene deleted was constructed by the method initially developed by Datsenko, K.A. and Wanner, B.L. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97(12) 6640-6645) called "Red-driven integration". The DNA fragment containing the Cm^R marker encoded by the cat gene was obtained by PCR, using primers P21 (SEQ ID NO:37) and P22 (SEQ ID NO:38) and plasmid pMWl 18-attL-Cm-attR as a template (for construction see Example 1). Primer P21 contains both a region complementary to the 36- nt region located at the 5' end of the flmZ gene and a region complementary to the attL region. Primer P22 contains both a region complementary to the 36-nt region located at the 3' end of the flmZ gene and a region complementary to the attR region. Conditions for PCR were as follows: denaturation step: 3 min at 95°C; profile for two first cycles: 1 min at 95⁰C, 30 sec at 50°C, 40 sec at 72°C; profile for the last 25 cycles: 30 sec at 95°C, 30 sec at 54°C, 40 sec at 72°C; final step: 5 min at 72⁰C.

A 1.7 kbp PCR product (Fig. 3) was obtained and purified in agarose gel and was used for electroporation of E. coli MGl 655 (ATCC 700926), which contains the plasmid pKD46 having a temperature-sensitive replication. The plasmid pKD46 (Datsenko, K.A. and Wanner, B.L., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2000, 97(12) 6640-6645) includes a 2,154- bp DNA fragment of phage λ (nucleotide positions 31088 to 33241, GenBank accession No. J02459), and contains ^'genes of the λ Red homologous recombination system (j, β, exo genes) under the control of the arabinose-inducible P_araB promoter. The plasmid pKD46 is necessary for integration of the PCR product into the chromosome of strain MG1655.

Electrocompetent cells were prepared as described in the Example 2. Electroporation was performed using 70 μl of cells and «100 ng of the PCR product. Cells after electroporation were incubated with 1 ml of SOC medium (Sambrook et al, "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) at 37°C for 2.5 hours and after that were plated onto L-agar containing chloramphenicol (30 μg/ml) and grown at 37°C to select Cm^R recombinants. Then, to eliminate the pKD46 plasmid, two passages on L-agar with Cm at 42°C were performed and the obtained colonies were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin.

2. Verification of the fimZ gene deletion by PCR

The mutants, which have the fimZ gene deleted and are marked with the Cm resistance gene, were verified by PCR. Locus-specific primers P23 (SEQ ID NO:39) and P24 (SEQ ID NO:40) were used in PCR for verification. Conditions for PCR verification were as follows: denaturation step: 3 min at 94°C; profile for the 30 cycles: 30 sec at 94°C, 30 sec at 54⁰C, 1 min at 72°C; final step: 7 min at 72°C. The PCR product obtained in the reaction with the cells of the parental strain fϊmZ⁺ MGl 655 strain as the template was ~0.7 kb in length. The PCR product obtained in the reaction with the cells of the mutant strain as the template was ~ 1.8kb in length (Fig.5). The mutant strain was named MG1655 ΔfimZ::cat.

Example 14. Production of L-threonine by E. coli B-3996-ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the flmZ gene on threonine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MGl 655 ΔfimZ::cat were transferred to the threonine-producing E. coli strain VKPM B-3996 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain B-3996-ΔfimZ.

Both E. coli B-3996 and B-3996-ΔfimZ, were grown for 18-24 hours at 37°C on L- agar plates. To obtain a seed culture, the strains were grown on a rotary shaker (250 rpm) at 32⁰C for 18 hours in 20x200-mm test tubes containing 2 ml of L-broth supplemented with 4% glucose. Then, the fermentation medium was inoculated with 0.21 ml (10%) of seed material. The fermentation was performed in 2 ml of minimal medium for fermentation in 20x200-mm test tubes. Cells were grown for 65 hours at 32⁰C with shaking at 250 rpm.

After cultivation, the amount of L-threonine which had accumulated in the medium, was determined by paper chromatography using the following mobile phase: butanol : acetic acid : water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution 2% of ninhydrin in acetone was used as a visualizing reagent. A spot containing L-threonine was cut out, L-threonine was eluted in 0.5 % water solution of CdCl₂, and the amount of L-threonine was estimated spectrophotometrically at 540 nm. The results of eight independent test tube fermentations are shown in Table 3. As follows from Table 3, B-3996- ΔfimZ caused accumulation of a higher amount of L-tlireonine, as compared with B-3996.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) was as follows:

Glucose 80.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 22.0

NaCl 0.8

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 0.8

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.02

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.02

Thiamine HCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 1.0

CaCO₃ 30.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate were sterilized separately. CaCO₃ was sterilized by dry-heat at 180⁰C for 2 hours. The pH was adjusted to 7.0. The antibiotic was introduced into the medium after sterilization. Table 3

Example 15. Production of L-lysine by E. coli AJl 1442-ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the flmZ gene on lysine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MG1655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the Iy sine-producing E. coli strain AJl 1442 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain AJl 1442-ΔfimZ.

Both E. coli strains AJl 1442 and AJl 1442-ΔfimZ can be cultured in L-medium containing streptomycin (20 mg/1) at 37⁰C, and 0.3 ml of the obtained culture can be inoculated into 20 ml of the fermentation medium containing the required drugs in a 500- ml flask. The cultivation can be carried out at 37°C for 16 h by using a reciprocal shaker at the agitation speed of 115 rpm. After the cultivation, the amounts of L-lysine and residual glucose in the medium can be measured by a known method (Biotech-analyzer AS210 manufactured by Sakura Seiki Co.). Then, the yield of L-lysine can be calculated relative to consumed glucose for each of the strains.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 40

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 24

K₂HPO₄ 1.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.01

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.01

Yeast extract 2.0

The pH is adjusted to 7.0 by KOH and the medium is autoclaved at 115°C for 10 min. Glucose and MgSO₄ x 7H₂O are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 180°C for 2 hours and added to the medium for a final concentration of 30 g/1.

Example 16. Production of L-cysteine by E. coli JM15CvdeDVΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the fimZ gene on L-cysteine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MGl 655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-cysteine-producing strain JM15(ydeD) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain JM15(ydeD)-ΔfϊmZ.

E. coli JM15(ydeD) is a derivative of E. coli JM15 (US Patent No. 6,218,168), which can be transformed with DNA having the ydeD gene encoding a membrane protein, and is not involved in a biosynthetic pathway of any L-amino acid (U.S. Patent No. 5,972,663). The strain JMl 5 (CGSC# 5042) can be obtained from The Coli Genetic Stock Collection at the E.coli Genetic Resource Center, MCD Biology Department, Yale University (http://cgsc.biology.yale.edu/).

Fermentation conditions for evaluation of L-cysteine production were described in detail in Example 6 of US Patent No. 6,218,168.

Example 17. Production of L-leucine by E. coli 57-ΔfimZ

To test the effect of inactivation of the flmZ gene on L-leucine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MG1655 Δ-fimZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-leucine-producing strain 57 (VKPM B-7386, US Patent No. 6,124,121) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain 57-ΔfimZ.

Both E. coli strains, 57 and 57-ΔfimZ, can be cultured for 18-24 hours at 37°C on L- agar plates. To obtain a seed culture, the strains can be grown on a rotary shaker (250 rpm) at 32⁰C for 18 hours in 20x200-mm test tubes containing 2 ml of L-broth supplemented with 4% sucrose. Then, the fermentation medium can be inoculated with 0.21 ml of seed material (10%). The fermentation can be performed in 2 ml of a minimal fermentation medium in 20x200-mm test tubes. Cells can be grown for 48-72 hours at 32°C with shaking at 250 rpm. The amount of L-leucine can be measured by paper chromatography (liquid phase composition: butanol - acetic acid - water = 4:1:1).

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) (pH 7.2) is as follows:

Glucose 60.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 25.0

K₂HPO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

Thiamine 0.01

CaCO₃ 25.0

Glucose and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately.

Example 18. Production of L-histidine by E. coli 80-ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the βmZ gene on L-histidine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MGl 655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the histidine-producing E. coli strain 80 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain 80-ΔfimZ.

Both E. coli strains, 80 and 80-ΔfimZ, can each be cultured in L-broth for 6 h at 29°C. Then, 0.1 ml of obtained culture can each be inoculated into 2 ml of fermentation medium in a 20x200-mm test tube and cultivated for 65 hours at 29°C with shaking on a rotary shaker (350 rpm). After cultivation, the amount of histidine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by paper chromatography. The paper can be developed with a mobile phase consisting of n-butanol : acetic acid : water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (0.5%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows (pH 6.0):

Glucose 100.0

Mameno (soybean hydrolysate) 0.2 of as total nitrogen

L-proline 1.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 25.0

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂0 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂0 0.01

MnSO₄ 0.01

Thiamine 0.001

Betaine 2.0

CaCO₃ 60.0

Glucose, proline, betaine and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately. The pH is adjusted to 6.0 before sterilization.

Example 19. Production of L-glutamate by E. coli VL334thr C⁺-AfImZ To test the effect of inactivation of the fimZ gene on L-glutamate production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MG 1655 Δ-fϊmZ::cat can be transferred to the E. coli L-glutamate-producing strain VL334thrC⁺ (EP 1172433) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain VL334thrC⁺-ΔfϊmZ. Both strains, VL334thrC⁺ and VL334thrC⁺-ΔfimZ, can be grown for 18-24 hours at 37⁰C on L-agar plates. Then, one loop of the cells can be transferred into test tubes containing 2ml of fermentation medium. The fermentation medium contains glucose (60g/l), ammonium sulfate (25 g/1), KH₂PO₄ (2g/l), MgSO₄ (I g/1), thiamine (0.1 mg/ml), L-isoleucine (70 μg/ml), and CaCO₃ (25 g/1). The pH is adjusted to 7.2. Glucose and CaCO₃ are sterilized separately. Cultivation can be carried out at 30°C for 3 days with shaking. After the cultivation, the amount of L-glutamic acid which is produced can be determined by paper chromatography (liquid phase composition of butanol-acetic acid- water=4: 1:1) with subsequent staining by ninhydrin (1% solution in acetone) and further elution of the compounds in 50% ethanol with 0.5% CdCl₂.

Example 20. Production of L- phenylalanine by E. coli AJ12739-ΔfimZ

To test the effect of inactivation of the βmZ gene on L-phenylalanine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli MG1655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the phenylalanine-producing E. coli strain AJl 2739 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain AJ12739-ΔfimZ.

Both strains, AJ12739-ΔfimZ and AJ12739, can be cultivated at 37°C for 18 hours in a nutrient broth, and 0.3 ml of the obtained culture can each be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium in a 20x200-mm test tube and cultivated at 37°C for 48 hours with shaking on a rotary shaker. After cultivation, the amount of phenylalanine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by TLC. The 10xl5-cm TLC plates coated with 0.11-mm layers of Sorbfil silica gel containing no fluorescent indicator (Stock Company Sorbpolymer, Krasnodar, Russia) can be used. The Sorbfil plates can be developed with a mobile phase consisting of propan-2-ol : ethylacetate : 25% aqueous ammonia : water = 40 : 40 : 7 : 16 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (2%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 40.0

(NH₄)₂SO₄ 16.0

K₂HPO₄ 0.1

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

FeSO₄-7H₂O 0.01

MnSO₄-5H₂O 0.01

Thiamine HCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 2.0

Tyrosine 0.125

CaCO₃ 20.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 180° for 2 hours. The pH is adjusted to 7.0.

Example 21. Production of L- tryptophan bv E. coli SVl 64 (pGH5)- ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the fimZ gene on L-tryptophan production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the tryptophan-producing E. coli strain SVl 64 (pGH5) by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain SV164(ρGH5)-ΔfimZ.

Both strains, SV164(ρGH5)-ΔfimZ and SV164(pGH5), can be cultivated with shaking at 37°C for 18 hours in 3 ml of nutrient broth supplemented with tetracycline (20 mg/1, marker of pGH5 plasmid). The obtained cultures (0.3 ml each) can be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium containing tetracycline (20 mg/1) in 20 x 200-nim test tubes, and cultivated at 37°C for 48 hours with a rotary shaker at 250 rpm. After cultivation, the amount of tryptophan which accumulates in the medium can be determined by TLC as described in Example 8. The fermentation medium components are listed in Table 2, but shoud be sterilized in separate groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, and H), as shown, to avoid adverse interactions during sterilization.

Example 22. Production of L-proline by E. coli 702ilvA- ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the fimZ gene on L-proline production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MG1655 ΔfϊmZ::cat can be transferred to the proline-producing E. coli strain 702ilvA by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain the strain 702ilvA-ΔfimZ. The strain 702ilvA has been deposited in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) (Russia, 117545 Moscow, 1 Dorozhny proezd, 1) on July 18, 2000 under accession number VKPM B-8012 and then converted to a deposit under the Budapest Treaty on May 18, 2001.

Both E. coli strains 702ilvA and 702ilvA-ΔfimZ, can be grown for 18-24 hours at 37°C on L-agar plates. Then, these strains can be cultivated under the same conditions as in Example 8.

Example 23. Production of L-arginine by E. coli 382-ΔfimZ To test the effect of inactivation of the fimZ gene on L-arginine production, DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MG1655 ΔfimZ::cat can be transferred to the arginine-producing E. coli strain 382 by Pl transduction (Miller, J.H. Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, 1972, Plainview, NY) to obtain strain 382-ΔfimZ.

Both strains, 382-ΔfimZ and 382, can be cultivated with shaking at 37°C for 18 hours in 3 ml of nutrient broth, and 0.3 ml of the obtained cultures can be inoculated into 3 ml of a fermentation medium in 20 x 200-mm test tubes and cultivated at 32°C for 48 hours on a rotary shaker.

After the cultivation, the amount of L-arginine which accumulates in the medium can be determined by paper chromatography using the following mobile phase: butanol : acetic acid : water = 4 : 1 : 1 (v/v). A solution of ninhydrin (2%) in acetone can be used as a visualizing reagent. A spot containing L-arginine can be cut out, L-arginine can be eluted with 0.5 % water solution OfCdCl₂, and the amount of L-arginine can be estimated spectrophotometrically at 540 nm.

The composition of the fermentation medium (g/1) is as follows:

Glucose 48.0

(NHU)₂SO₄ 35.0

KH₂PO₄ 2.0

MgSO₄-7H₂O 1.0

Thiamine HCl 0.0002

Yeast extract 1.0

L-isoleucine 0.1

CaCO₃ 5.0

Glucose and magnesium sulfate are sterilized separately. CaCO₃ is dry-heat sterilized at 180 °C for 2 hours. The pH is adjusted to 7.0.

Example 24. Elimination of the Cm resistance gene (cat gene) from the chromosome of L-amino acid-producing E. coli strains.

The Cm resistance gene {cat gene) can be eliminated from the chromosome of the L- amino acid-producing strain using the int-xis system. For that purpose, an L-amino acid- producing strain having DNA fragments from the chromosome of the above-described E. coli strain MGl 655 ΔsfmACDHF-fimZ::cat or MGl 655 ΔfimZ::cat transferred by Pl transduction (see Examples 3-23), can be transformed with plasmid pMWts-Int/Xis. Transformant clones can be selected on the LB-medium containing 100 μg/ml of ampicillin. Plates can be incubated overnight at 30°C. Transformant clones can be cured from the cat gene by spreading the separate colonies at 37°C (at that temperature repressor Cits is partially inactivated and transcription of the int/xis genes is derepressed) followed by selection of Cm^sAp^R variants. Elimination of the cat gene from the chromosome of the strain can be verified by PCR. Locus-specific primers P23 (SEQ ID NO:39) and P24 (SEQ ID NO:40) can be used in PCR for the verification. Conditions for PCR verification can be as described above. The PCR product obtained in reaction with cells having the eliminated cat gene as a template, should be ~0.1 kbp in length. Thus, the L-amino acid-producing strain with the inactivated sfmACDHF-fimZ cluster ovβmZ gene and eliminated cat gene can be obtained. While the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. All the cited references herein are incorporated as a part of this application by reference.

Industrial Applicability

According to the present invention, production of L-amino acid of a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family can be enhanced.

Claims

1. An L-amino acid-producing bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein said bacterium has been modified to attenuate expression of a gene selected from the group consisting of sfmACDFH-fimZ and fimZ.

2. The bacterium according to claim 1, wherein said expression is attenuated by inactivation of the gene.

3. The bacterium according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium belongs to the genus

Escherichia.

4. The bacterium according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium belongs to genus Pantoea.

5. The L-amino acid-producing bacterium according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said

L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic L-amino acid and a non-aromatic L-amino acid.

6. The L-amino acid-producing bacterium according to claim 5, wherein said aromatic L- amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L- tryptophan.

7. The L-amino acid-producing bacterium according to claim 5, wherein said non-aromatic

L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L-threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-histidine, glycine, L-serine, L- alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, and L- arginine.

8. A method for producing an L-amino acid comprising:

- cultivating the bacterium according to any of claims 1 to 7 in a medium to produce and excrete said L-amino acid into the medium, and

- collecting said L-amino acid from the medium.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic L-amino acid and a non-aromatic L-amino acid.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said non-aromatic L-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L-threonine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L- leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-histidine, glycine, L-serine, L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, and L-arginine.