Menaquinone (Vitamin K21)-6 Production by Mutants of Flavobacterium meningosepticum

Abstract

Flavobacterium meningosepticum IFO 12535, a mena quinone (MK) producer, was mutagenized to improve productivity. A mutant, which was resistant to 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (HNA), was found to produce MK more abundantly: 34mg/liter of culture broth and 5.5mg/g of dry cells. The mutant was less sensitive to inhibition by HNA on MK biosynthesis than the wild-type strain. MK was isolated from cells of the mutant and identified as MK-6 based on its physicochemical characteristics. Mutants, which were given each KCN resistance, aromatic amino acid auxotrophy and no carotenoid productivity, did not show further increase of productivity. © 1986, Center for Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.