A high γ-aminobutyric acid-producingLactobacillus brevis isolated from Chinese traditionalpaocai

To find a high γ-aminobutyric acid-producing lactic acid bacterium, more than 1000 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated frompaocai samples in various areas of China were screened by the ability in production of γ-aminobutyric acid, analysed with paper chromatography, HPLC and HPLC-MS. Among them, one strain NCL912 exhibited high ability to convert sodium glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid. The strain accumulated 149.05 mM of γ-aminobutyric acid in a modified MRS medium containing 3% sodium glutamate after 48 h of static cultivation at 30 °C. This strain was identified asLactobacillus brevis according to its phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics.