Regulation of lysine biosynthesis in the leucine-dependent mutant of Micrococcus glutamicus]

The role of leucine in metabolism of Micrococcus glutamicus was examined in relation to the lysis synthesis by the homoserine- and leucine-dependent strains of M. glutamicus 106 and the homoserine-dependent strain of M. glutamicus 95. In addition to the growth function, leucine produced a controlling effect on the yield of the end product. In the presence of leucine the inhibitory effect of isoleucine on the lysine yield was reduced or reversed. The end effect depended on the leucine: isoleucine ratio. The mechanism of interaction of amino acid metabolites with respect to the lysine biosynthesis in both strains is discussed.