MEMBRANE-BOUND MESO-ERYTHRITOL DEHYDROGENASE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING L-ERYTHRULOSE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for the production of L-erythrulose in high efficiency, taking consideration of the insufficient accumulation of information of the production of L-erythrulose, by the oxidative fermentation of meso- erythritol with a heat-tolerant or mesophilic bacterial strain belonging to the genus Gluconobacter. SOLUTION: L-Erythrulose is produced in high efficiency and a yield of as high as 80% to about 100% by the oxidative fermentation of meso-erythritol at a high culture temperature by screening a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter, especially a heat-tolerant or mesophilic strain of the genus Gluconobacter. A membrane-bound meso-erythritol dehydrogenase is indentified as a new enzyme by the investigation of the characteristics of the dehydrogenase of the present invention.