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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2000, p. 5128-5133, Vol. 66, No. 12
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Branched-Chain Amino Acid Biosynthesis Is Essential for Optimal Growth of Streptococcus thermophilus in Milk

P. Garault,1 C. Letort,2 V. Juillard,2 and V. Monnet1,*

Unité de Biochimie et Structure des Protéines1 and Unité de Recherches Laitières et Génétique Appliquée,2 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France

Received 19 April 2000/Accepted 2 August 2000

Lactic acid bacteria are nutritionally demanding bacteria which need, among other things, amino acids for optimal growth. We identified the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis pathway as an essential pathway for optimal growth of Streptococcus thermophilus in milk. Through random insertional mutagenesis, we isolated and characterized two mutants for which growth in milk is affected as a consequence of ilvB and ilvC gene interruptions. This situation demonstrates that the BCAA biosynthesis pathway is active in S. thermophilus. BCAA biosynthesis is necessary but not sufficient for optimal growth of S. thermophilus and is subject to retro-inhibition processes. The specificity of the BCAA biosynthesis pathway in S. thermophilus lies in the independent transcription of the ilvC gene encoding a keto acid reductoisomerase acting on acetolactate at the junction of the BCAA and acetoin biosynthesis pathways. The possible advantages for S. thermophilus of keeping this biosynthesis pathway active could be linked either to adaptation of the organism to milk, which is different than that of other dairy bacteria, or to the role of the pathway in maintaining the internal pH.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Unité de Biochimie et Structure des Protéines, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France. Phone: 33-1-34-65-21-49. Fax: 33-1-34-65-21-63. E-mail: monnet{at}jouy.inra.fr.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2000, p. 5128-5133, Vol. 66, No. 12
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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