Optimization of an Intact Cell System of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus KUP-74 for ${\delta}-Aminolevulinic$ Acid Production

A novel system has been developed to produce ${\delta}-aminolevulinic$ acid (ALA) using the intact cells of late logarithmic phase of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus KUP-74. The system was shown optimum yield of extracellular ALA under a condition of anaerobic light irradiation (4 Klux) at $30^{\circ}C$ with no variation in cell mass. The rate of extracellular ALA formation was stimulated by low doses of either $C_4\;or\;C_5$ ALA biosynthetic precursors, where 5 mM ($C_4) and 3 mM ($C_5) of each precursors were appeared to generate the maximum rates of 3.3 and 4.0 nmoles of ALA per 0.35 mg cells per hr, respectively. Half-life of the system was 10 hr in a sense of an ability of portage transport of L-glutamate, and sequential dose of this compound was resulted in promising recovery of the ALA.