Complementation of the inability of Lactobacillus strains to utilize D-xylose with D-xylose catabolism-encoding genes of Lactobacillus pentosus

Abstract

The inability of two Lactobacillus strains to ferment D-xylose was complemented by the introduction of Lactobacillus pentosus genes encoding D-xylose isomerase, D-xylulose kinase, and a D-xylose catabolism regulatory protein. This result opens the possibility of using D-xylose fermentation as a food-grade selection marker for Lactobacillus spp.