Valine production from hydrocarbon by Micrococcus varians

A bacterium isolated from Assam (India) soil was found to accumulate L-valine in the growth medium and was identified as Micrococcus varians. The strain grew and accumulated valine in a purely synthetic medium, but supplementation with either casamino acids or yeast extract or with both, improved the yield. The entire fermentation period could be divided into a growth phase and a production (phase which could be prolonged by adjustment of pH to neutral range. Among the different hydrocarbon and nitrogen sources tested straight run gas-oil and ammonium sulphate, respectively, were found most suitable. Antibiotics inhibited growth but stimulated extracellular valine accumulation. Vitamins stimulated growth and valine yield and an inoculum level of 10% was found to be optimal. The yield of L-valine under optimal conditions was 2.95 g/L.