Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1986, 51, 1361-1372
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19861361

Production of L-malic acid by immobilized bacterial cells of the genus Brevibacterium

Jaroslav Černý and Jan Škoda

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 166 10 Prague 6

Abstract

A HPLC procedure was developed permitting an exact and rapid determination of L-malate, fumarate, succinate, and other dicarboxylis acids. The method was used to assay the products of fumarate metabolism in two Brevibacterium strains, obtained by screening, and showing a high fumarate conversion both in the cell suspension and in the immobilized system. Polyacrylamide and Ca-alginate were employed as polymeric matrices. The conditions were determined (pH, temperature, ion concentration, effect of inhibitors and detergents) under which L-malate is predominantly formed from fumarate and the conversion degree is the highest (8.60 mmol of L-malate h/g cells). The dependence of the conversion of various types of the polymeric matrix and the stability of the system in a continuous experimental arrangement were also examined. The results of these experiments will be utilized in L-malate technology.