This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Burgess, C. Articles by van Sinderen, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Burgess, C. Articles by van Sinderen, D. Agricola Articles by Burgess, C. Articles by van Sinderen, D.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2004, p. 5769-5777, Vol. 70, No. 10
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.10.5769-5777.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Riboflavin Production in Lactococcus lactis: Potential for In Situ Production of Vitamin-Enriched Foods

Department of Microbiology,¹ Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Biosciences Institute, National University of Ireland Cork, Cork, Ireland,² Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen, The Netherlands³

Received 5 February 2004/ Accepted 9 June 2004

This study describes the genetic analysis of the riboflavin (vitamin B₂) biosynthetic (rib) operon in the lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strain NZ9000. Functional analysis of the genes of the L. lactis rib operon was performed by using complementation studies, as well as by deletion analysis. In addition, gene-specific genetic engineering was used to examine which genes of the rib operon need to be overexpressed in order to effect riboflavin overproduction. Transcriptional regulation of the L. lactis riboflavin biosynthetic process was investigated by using Northern hybridization and primer extension, as well as the analysis of roseoflavin-induced riboflavin-overproducing L. lactis isolates. The latter analysis revealed the presence of both nucleotide replacements and deletions in the regulatory region of the rib operon. The results presented here are an important step toward the development of fermented foods containing increased levels of riboflavin, produced in situ, thus negating the need for vitamin fortification.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bachmann, H., Santos, F., Kleerebezem, M., van Hylckama Vlieg, J. E. T. (2007). Luciferase Detection during Stationary Phase in Lactococcus lactis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 4704-4706 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wegmann, U., O'Connell-Motherway, M., Zomer, A., Buist, G., Shearman, C., Canchaya, C., Ventura, M., Goesmann, A., Gasson, M. J., Kuipers, O. P., van Sinderen, D., Kok, J. (2007). Complete Genome Sequence of the Prototype Lactic Acid Bacterium Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363. J. Bacteriol. 189: 3256-3270 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Duurkens, R. H., Tol, M. B., Geertsma, E. R., Permentier, H. P., Slotboom, D. J. (2007). Flavin Binding to the High Affinity Riboflavin Transporter RibU. J. Biol. Chem. 282: 10380-10386 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Burgess, C. M., Slotboom, D. J., Geertsma, E. R., Duurkens, R. H., Poolman, B., van Sinderen, D. (2006). The Riboflavin Transporter RibU in Lactococcus lactis: Molecular Characterization of Gene Expression and the Transport Mechanism.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 2752-2760 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Teusink, B., van Enckevort, F. H. J., Francke, C., Wiersma, A., Wegkamp, A., Smid, E. J., Siezen, R. J. (2005). In Silico Reconstruction of the Metabolic Pathways of Lactobacillus plantarum: Comparing Predictions of Nutrient Requirements with Those from Growth Experiments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 7253-7262 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• LeBlanc, J. G., Burgess, C., Sesma, F., de Giori, G. S., van Sinderen, D. (2005). Ingestion of Milk Fermented by Genetically Modified Lactococcus lactis Improves the Riboflavin Status of Deficient Rats. J DAIRY SCI 88: 3435-3442 [Abstract] [Full Text]