Relationship between Sulfaguanidine Resistance and Increased Cellulose Production in Acetobacter xylinum BPR3001E

The mechanism of the increased cell growth and cellulose production of Acetobacter xylinum subsp. sucrofermentans BPR3001E, a sulfaguanidine (SG)-resistant mutant, was investigated. We found that adding p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) to cultures of the parent strain, BPR2001, led to increased levels of intracellular adenosine-related purine compounds and increased cellulose production. Furthermore, adding ATP increased the cellulose production by permeabilized BPR2001 cells. On the other hand, the intracellular levels of PABA and adenosine-related purine compounds in BPR3001E cells were higher than those in BPR2001 cells. These results suggest that SG resistance increases enhance cellulose production through increased levels of intracellular high-energy compounds caused by increased PABA biosynthesis, reflecting the promoted supply of cellulose precursors.