UTILIZATION OF d-GLUTAMIC ACID BY LACTOBACILLUS ARABINOSUS: GLUTAMIC RACEMASE

Abstract

n-Glutamic acid was consistently superior to a-ketoglutaratc in supporting the growth of Lactobacillus arabinosus 17-5 when these substances replaced L-glutamic acid in the medium (1). The results suggested that the conversion of n-glutamic to L-glutamic acid by this organism does not proceed chiefly through a-ketoglutaric acid. The present study demonstrates the presence of an enzymatic system in L. arabinosus which catalyzes the racemization of glutamic acid. Additional observations were also made which are relevant to the stimulation of utilization of n-glut.amic acid by glutamine previously reported (1). EXPERIMENTAL