Fermentative production of L-arginine. II. Mechanism of L-arginine production by L-arginine-producing mutants of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Regulatory properties of the arginine biosynthetic enzymes in the L-arginine producers of Corynebacterium glutainicum were examined. D-Serine-sensitive L-arginine producer, DSS-8, had derepressed level of L-arginine biosynthetic enzymes, but had an N-acetylglutamokinase, the key enzyme of L-arginine biosynthetic pathway, sensitive to the feedback inhibition by L-arginine. D-Serine-sensitive and D-arginine-resistant L-arginine producer, KY10479, had an N-acetylglutamokinase released from the feedback inhibition by L-arginine. Implications of these results are discussed in relation to L-arginine productivity, D-serine sensitivity, L-arginine analog resistance and regulation of L-arginine biosynthesis in these mutants.