HYBRID PLASMID AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GLUTATHIONE USING SAID PLASMID

摘要

A hybrid plasmid that can be incorporated into a bacterium of the species Escherichia coli for use in the production of glutathione is disclosed. This hybrid plasmid has incorporated into an E. coli vector the genes for .gamma.-glutamyl-L-cysteine synthetase and/or glutathione synthetase, which are the two enzymes involved in glutathione synthesis. Also disclosed is a process for producing glutathione which comprises culturing a bacterium of E. coli having said hybrid plasmid, and recovering glutathione from the culture broth or producing glutathione by bringing L-glutamic acid, L-cysteine, glycine, adenosine-5'-triphosphate and magnesium ions into contact with a material obtained by treating the microbial cells of E. coli.