Norvaline accumulation by regulatory mutants of Serratia marcescens

A gene coding for desensitized L-threonine dehydratase was transduced with phage PS20 into a leucine accumulator of Serratia marcescens Sr41. The transductant converted L-threonine to alpha-ketobutyrate, a precursor of both norvaline and isoleucine. An isoleucine-valine auxotroph of the transductant accumulated large amount of norvaline from L-threonine as well as from D-threonine.