Productionof 7 - Polyglutamic Acid by BacilZtis under Denitrifying Conditionsfichenijbrmis A 35

The possibi]ity of producing amino acids under cenditions of denitrification, i.e., with nitrate respiration as an energy-supplying system, was inyestigated using denitrifying bacteria. We found that Bacirrus 1tehenijbrmis A35 accurnulated 7-polyglutamic acid (PGA) to a concentratien ef8 mg per ml in a medium containing glllcose and ammonium chloride or glutamic acid under denitrifying conditions. The bacterium also produced PGA aerobicaJly. Thvs, we follnd the de novo synthesis of PGA with B, fiehenijbrmis A35. The optimum conditions for PGA production were determined. The purified PGA was found to be eomposed solely of glutamic acid; both Dand L-glutamic acid, in a molar ratio of 4 : 1. The molecular weight of PGA was about 3 x 105. Other bacilli testect produced some free amino acids but not under nitrate-respiration conditions, although some of them did produce PGA aerobically from L-glutamic acid.