L-Glutamate and L-lysine: traditional products wiU1 impetuous developments

Amino acids have been produced with the aid of microorganisms for nearly 40 years now. The economic importance of these cellular building: blocks is enormous. Demand for them is rising continuously and currently more than 10(6) tonnes/year are required. Continual efforts to increase production performance are directed towards the microorganisms themselves, as well as towards technical improvements of the respective processes. A special position within the amino-acid-producing microorganisms is traditionally occupied by Corynebacterium glutamicium. Molecular research in conjunction with NMR studies of Aux has revealed fascinating new properties of this particular organism, including the existence of a new type of exporter and reverse fluxes within the anaplerosis. The knowledge gained will enable the further improvement of production strains and furthermore extend fundamental insights into metabolite flux management within bacteria in general.