Nucleotide sequence which code for the metH gene

Abstract

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and processes for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the metH gene is present in enhanced form, and use of the polynucleotide sequences as hybridization probes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention provides nucleotide sequences from coryneform bacteria which code for the metH gene and a process for the fermentative preparation of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, using bacteria in which the metH gene is enhanced.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] L-Amino acids, in particular L-methionine, are used in human medicine and in the pharmaceuticals industry, in the foodstuffs industry and very particularly in animal nutrition.

[0005] It is known that amino acids are prepared by fermentation from strains of coryneform bacteria, in particular Corynebacterium glutamicum. Because of their great importance, work is constantly being undertaken to improve the preparation process. Improvements to the process can relate to fermentation measures, such as, stirring and supply of oxygen, or to the composition of the nutrient media, such as, the sugar concentration during the fermentation, or to the working up of the product by, for example, ion exchange chromatography, or to the intrinsic output properties of the microorganism itself.

[0006] Methods of mutagenesis, selection and mutant selection are used to improve the output properties of these microorganisms. Strains which are resistant to antimetabolites, such as e.g. the methionine analogue .alpha.-methyl-methionine, ethionine, norleucine, N-acetylnorleucine, S-trifluoromethylhombcysteine, 2-amino-5-heprenoitic acid, seleno-methionine, methionine-sulfoximine, methoxine, 1-aminocyclopentane-carboxylic acid, or are auxotrophic for metabolites of regulatory importance and produce amino acids, such as e.g. L-methionine, are obtained in this manner.

[0007] Recombinant DNA techniques have also been employed for some years for improving Corynebacterium strains which produce L-amino acids, by amplifying individual amino acid biosynthesis genes and investigating their effect on the amino acid production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One object of the present invention is to provide new measures for improved fermentative preparation of amino acids, in particular L-methionine.

[0009] When L-methionine or methionine are mentioned in the following, the salts, such as methionine hydrochloride or methionine sulfate are also meant.

[0010] The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide from coryneform bacteria, comprising a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the metH gene, chosen from the group consisting of

[0011] a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2,

[0012] b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2,

[0013] c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and

[0014] d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and the corresponding polypeptides having the enzymatic activity of homocysteine methyltransferase II.

[0015] The invention also provides the above-mentioned polynucleotides, as DNA which is capable of replication, comprising:

[0016] (i) the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1, or

[0017] (ii) at least one sequence which corresponds to sequence (i) within the range of the degeneration of the genetic code, or

[0018] (iii) at least one sequence which hybridizes with the sequence complementary to sequence (i) or (ii), and optionally

[0019] (iv) sense mutations of neutral function in (i).

[0020] The invention also provides

[0021] a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 1;

[0022] a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 2,

[0023] a vector containing the polynucleotide according to the invention, in particular a shuttle vector or plasmid vector, and

[0024] and coryneform bacteria serving as the host cell, which contain the vector or in which the metH gene is enhanced.

[0025] The invention also provides polynucleotides which are obtained by screening a corresponding gene library, which comprises the complete gene having the polynucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID No. 1, by means of hybridization with a probe which comprises the sequence of the polynucleotide mentioned, according to SEQ ID No. 1 or a fragment thereof, and isolation of the DNA sequence mentioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1 shows plasmid pCREmetH.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Polynucleotides according to the invention are suitable as hybridization probes for RNA, cDNA and DNA, in order to isolate, in the full length, nucleic acids or polynucleotides or genes which code for homocysteine methyltransferase II or to isolate those nucleic acids or polynucleotides or genes which have a high similarity of sequence or homology with that of the homocysteine methyltransferase II gene.

[0028] Polynucleotides according to the invention are furthermore suitable as primers with the aid of which DNA of genes that code for homocysteine methyltransferase II can be prepared by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

[0029] Such oligonucleotides that serve as probes or primers comprise at least 30, preferably at least 20, very particularly at least 15 successive nucleotides. oligonucleotides which have a length of at least 40 or 50 nucleotides are also suitable. Oligonucleotides with a length of at least 100, 150, 200, 250 or 300 nucleotides are optionally also suitable.

[0030] "Isolated" means separated out of its natural environment.

[0031] "Polynucleotide" in general relates to polyribonucleotides and polydeoxyribonucleotides, it being possible for these to be non-modified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA.

[0032] "Polypeptides" are understood as meaning peptides or proteins which comprise two or more amino acids bonded via peptide bonds.

[0033] The polypeptides according to the invention include a polypeptide according to SEQ ID No. 2, in particular those with the biological activity of homocysteine methyltransferase II, and also those which are at least 70%, preferably at least 80% and in particular which are at least 90% to 95% identical to the polypeptide according to SEQ ID No. 2 and have the activity mentioned.

[0034] The invention moreover provides a process for the fermentative preparation of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, using coryneform bacteria which in particular already produce amino acids, and in which the nucleotide sequences which code for the metH gene are enhanced, in particular over-expressed.

[0035] The term "enhancement" in this connection describes the increase in the intracellular activity of one or more enzymes (proteins) in a microorganism which are coded by the corresponding DNA, for example by increasing the number of copies of the gene or genes, using a potent promoter or using a gene or allele which codes for a corresponding enzyme (protein) having a high activity, and optionally combining these measures.

[0036] By enhancement measures, in particular over-expression, the activity or concentration of the corresponding protein is in general increased by at least 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 300%, 400% or 500%, up to a maximum of 1000% or 2000%, based on the starting microorganism.

[0037] The microorganisms which the present invention provides can prepare L-amino acids, in particular L-methionine, from glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose, molasses, starch, cellulose or from glycerol and ethanol. They can be representatives of coryneform bacteria, in particular of the genus Corynebacterium. Of the genus Corynebacterium, there may be mentioned in particular the species Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is known among experts for its ability to produce L-amino acids.

[0038] Suitable strains of the genus Corynebacterium, in particular of the species Corynebacterium glutamicum (C. glutamicum), are in particular the known wild-type strains

[0039] Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032

[0040] Corynebacterium acetoglutamicum ATCC15806

[0041] Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum ATCC13870

[0042] Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes FERM BP-1539

[0043] Corynebacterium melassecola ATCC17965

[0044] Brevibacterium flavum ATCC14067

[0045] Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC13869 and

[0046] Brevibacterium divaricatum ATCC14020

[0047] or L-amino acid-producing mutants or strains prepared therefrom, such as, for example, the L-methionine-producing strain

[0048] Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC21608.

[0049] The new metH gene from C. glutamicum which codes for the enzyme homocysteine methyltransferase II (EC 2.1.1.13) has been isolated.

[0050] To isolate the metH gene or also other genes of C. glutamicum, a gene library of this microorganism is first set up in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The setting up of gene libraries is described in generally known textbooks and handbooks. The textbook by Winnacker: Gene und Klone, Eine Einfuhrung in die Gentechnologie (Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, Germany, 1990), or the handbook by Sambrook et al.: Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) may be mentioned as examples. A well-known gene library is that of the E. coli K-12 strain W3110 set up in .lambda. vectors by Kohara et al. (Cell 50, 495-508 (1987)). Bathe et al. (Molecular and General Genetics, 252:255-265, 1996) describe a gene library of C. glutamicum ATCC13032, which was set up with the aid of the cosmid vector SuperCos I (Wahl et al., 1987, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 84:2160-2164) in the E. coli K-12 strain NM554 (Raleigh et al., 1988, Nucleic Acids Research 16:1563-1575).

[0051] Bormann et al. (Molecular Microbiology 6(3), 317-326) (1992)) in turn describe a gene library of C. glutamicum ATCC13032 using the cosmid pHC79 (Hohn and Collins, Gene 11, 291-298 (1980)). To prepare a gene library of C. glutamicum in E. coli it is also possible to use plasmids such as pBR322 (Bolivar, Life Sciences, 25, 807-818 (1979)) or pUC9 (Vieira et al., 1982, Gene, 19:259-268). Suitable hosts are, in particular, those E. coli strains which are restriction- and recombination-defective. An example of these is the strain DH5.alpha.mcr, which has been described by Grant et al. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 87 (1990) 4645-4649). The long DNA fragments cloned with the aid of cosmids can in turn be subcloned in the usual vectors suitable for sequencing and then sequenced, as is described e.g. by Sanger et al. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 74:5463-5467, 1977).

[0052] The resulting DNA sequences can then be investigated with known algorithms or sequence analysis programs, such as that of Staden (Nucleic Acids Research 14, 217-232(1986)), that of Marck (Nucleic Acids Research 16, 1829-1836 (1988)) or the GCG program of Butler (Methods of Biochemical Analysis 39, 74-97 (1998)).

[0053] The new DNA sequence of C. glutamicum which codes for the metH gene and which, as SEQ ID No. 1, is a constituent of the present invention has been found. The amino acid sequence of the corresponding protein has furthermore been derived from the present DNA sequence by the methods described above. The resulting amino acid sequence of the metH gene product is shown in SEQ ID No. 2.

[0054] Coding DNA sequences which result from SEQ ID No. 1 by the degeneracy of the genetic code are also a constituent of the invention. In the same way, DNA sequences which hybridize with SEQ ID No. 1 or parts of SEQ ID No. 1 are a constituent of the invention. Conservative amino acid exchanges, such as e.g. exchange of glycine for alanine or of aspartic acid for glutamic acid in proteins, are furthermore known among experts as "sense mutations" which do not lead to a fundamental change in the activity of the protein, i.e. they are of neutral function.

[0055] It is furthermore known that changes at the N and/or C terminus of a protein must not substantially impair and may even stabilize the function thereof. Information in this context can be found in Ben-Bassat et al. (Journal of Bacteriology 169:751-757 (1987)), in O'Regan et al. (Gene 77:237-251 (1989)), in Sahin-Toth et al. (Protein Sciences 3:240-247 (1994)), in Hochuli et al. (Bio/Technology 6:1321-1325 (1988)) and in known textbooks of genetics and molecular biology. Amino acid sequences which result in a corresponding manner from SEQ ID No. 2 are also a constituent of the invention.

[0056] In the same way, DNA sequences which hybridize with SEQ ID No. 1 or parts of SEQ ID No. 1 are a constituent of the invention. Finally, DNA sequences which are prepared by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers which result from SEQ ID No. 1 are a constituent of the invention. Such oligonucleotides typically have a length of at least 15 nucleotides.

[0057] Instructions for identifying DNA sequences by means of hybridization can be found in the handbook "The DIG System Users Guide for Filter Hybridization" from Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (Mannheim, Germany, 1993) and in Liebl et al. (International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology (1991) 41: 255-260). Instructions for amplification of DNA sequences with the aid of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be found in the handbook by Gait: Oligonucleotide Synthesis: A Practical Approach (IRL Press, Oxford, UK, 1984) and in Newton and Graham: PCR (Spektrum Akademischer verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, 1994).

[0058] It has been found that coryneform bacteria produce amino acids, in particular L-methionine, in an improved manner after over-expression of the metH gene.

[0059] To achieve an over-expression, the number of copies of the corresponding genes can be increased, or the promoter and regulation region or the ribosome binding site upstream of the structural gene can be mutated. Expression cassettes which are incorporated upstream of the structural gene act in the same way. By inducible promoters, it is additionally possible to increase the expression in the course of fermentative L-methionine production. The expression is likewise improved by measures to prolong the life of the m-RNA. Furthermore, the enzyme activity is also increased by preventing the degradation of the enzyme protein. The genes or gene constructs can either be present in plasmids with a varying number of copies, or can be integrated and amplified in the chromosome. Alternatively, an over-expression of the genes in question can furthermore be achieved by changing the composition of the media and the culture procedure.

[0060] Instructions in this context can be found in Martin et al. (Bio/Technology 5, 137-146 (1987)), in Guerrero et al. (Gene 138, 35-41 (1994)), Tsuchiya and Morinaga (Bio/Technology 6, 428-430 (1988)), in Eikmanns et al. (Gene 102, 93-98 (1991)), in European Patent Specification 0 472 869, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,893, in Schwarzer and Puhler (Bio/Technology 9, 84-87 (1991), in Reinscheid et al. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology 60, 126-132 (1994)), in LaBarre et al. (Journal of Bacteriology 175, 1001-1007 (1993)), in Patent Application WO 96/15246, in Malumbres et al. (Gene 134, 15- 24 (1993)), in Japanese Laid-Open Specification JP-A-10-229891, in Jensen and Hammer (Biotechnology and Bioengineering 58, 191-195 (1998)), in Makrides (Microbiological Reviews 60:512-538 (1996)) and in known textbooks of genetics and molecular biology.

[0061] By way of example, for enhancement the metH gene according to the invention was over-expressed with the aid of episomal plasmids. Suitable plasmids are those which are replicated in coryneform bacteria. Numerous known plasmid vectors, such as e.g. pZl (Menkel et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology (1989) 64: 549-554), pEKEx1 (Eikmanns et al., Gene 102:93-98 (1991)) or pHS2-1 (Sonnen et al., Gene 107:69-74 (1991)) are based on the cryptic plasmids pHM1519, pBL1 or pGA1. Other plasmid vectors, such as those based on pCG4 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,160), or pNG2 (Serwold-Davis et al., FEMS Microbiology Letters 66, 119-124 (1990)), or pAG1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,891), can be used in the same manner. Plasmid vectors which are furthermore suitable are also those with the aid of which the process of gene amplification by integration into the chromosome can be used, as has been described, for example, by Reinscheid et al. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology 60, 126-132 (1994)) for duplication or amplification of the hom-thrB operon. In this method, the complete gene is cloned in a plasmid vector which can replicate in a host (typically E. coli), but not in C. glutamicum. Possible vectors are, for example, pSUP301 (Simon et al., Bio/Technology 1, 784-791 (1983)), pK18mob or pK19mob (Schafer et al., Gene 145, 69-73 (1994)), pGEM-T (Promega corporation, Madison, Wis., U.S.A.), pCR2.1-TOPO (Shuman (1994). Journal of Biological Chemistry 269:32678-84; U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,993), pCR.RTM.Blunt (Invitrogen, Groningen, Holland; Bernard et al., Journal of Molecular Biology, 234: 534-541 (1993)), pEM1 (Schrumpf et al, 1991, Journal of Bacteriology 173:4510-4516) or pBGS8 (Spratt et al., 1986, Gene 41: 337-342). The plasmid vector which contains the gene to be amplified is then transferred into the desired strain of C. glutamicum by conjugation or transformation. The method of conjugation is described, for example, by Schafer et al. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology 60, 756-759 (1994)). Methods for transformation are described, for example, by Thierbach et al. (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 29, 356-362 (1988)), Dunican and Shivnan (Bio/Technology 7, 1067-1070 (1989)) and Tauch et al. (FEMS Microbiological Letters 123, 343-347 (1994)). After homologous recombination by means of a "cross over" event, the resulting strain contains at least two copies of the gene in question.

[0062] In addition, it may be advantageous for the production of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, to enhance one or more enzymes of the particular biosynthesis pathway, of glycolysis, of anaplerosis, of the citric acid cycle or of amino acid export, in addition to the metH gene.

[0063] Thus for the preparation of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, one or more genes chosen from the group consisting of

[0064] the gap gene which codes for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Eikmanns (1992), Journal of Bacteriology 174:6076-6086),

[0065] the tpi gene which codes for triose phosphate isomerase (Eikmanns (1992), Journal of Bacteriology 174:6076-6086),

[0066] the pgk gene which codes for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (Eikmanns (1992), Journal of Bacteriology 174:6076-6086),

[0067] the pyc gene which codes for pyruvate carboxylase (Eikmanns (1992), Journal of Bacteriology 174:6076-6086),

[0068] the lysC gene which codes for a feed-back resistant aspartate kinase (ACCESSION NUMBER P26512; EP-B-0387527; EP-A-0699759),

[0069] the metA gene which codes for homoserine O-acetyltransferase (ACCESSION Number AF052652),

[0070] the metB gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-synthase (ACCESSION Number AF126953),

[0071] the aecD gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-lyase (ACCESSION Number M89931)

[0072] the glyA gene which codes for serine hydroxymethyltransferase (JP-A-08107788),

[0073] the metY gene which codes for O-acetylhomoserine-sulfhydrylase (DSM 13556)

[0074] can be enhanced, in particular over-expressed.

[0075] It may furthermore be advantageous for the production of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, in addition to the enhancement of the metH gene, for one or more genes chosen from the group consisting of

[0076] thrB gene which codes for homoserine kinase (ACCESSION Number P08210),

[0077] the ilvA gene which codes for threonine dehydratase (ACCESSION Number Q04513),

[0078] the thrC gene which codes for threonine synthase (ACCESSION Number P23669),

[0079] the ddh gene which codes for meso-diaminopimelate D-dehydrogenase (ACCESSION Number Y00151),

[0080] the pck gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (DE 199 50 409.1; DSM 13047),

[0081] the pgi gene which codes for glucose 6-phosphate isomerase (U.S. Pat. No. 09/396,478; DSM 12969),

[0082] the poxB gene which codes for pyruvate oxidase (DE: 1995 1975.7; DSM 13114)

[0083] to be attenuated, in particular for the expression thereof to be reduced.

[0084] The term "attenuation" in this connection describes the reduction or elimination of the intracellular activity of one or more enzymes (proteins) in a microorganism which are coded by the corresponding DNA, for example by using a weak promoter or using a gene or allele which codes for a corresponding enzyme with a low activity or inactivates the corresponding gene or enzyme (protein), and optionally combining these measures.

[0085] By attenuation measures, the activity or concentration of the corresponding protein is in general reduced to 0 to 50%, 0 to 25%, 0 to 10% or 0 to 5% of the activity or concentration of the wild-type protein.

[0086] In addition to over-expression of the metH gene it may furthermore be advantageous for the production of amino acids, in particular L-methionine, to eliminate undesirable side reactions, (Nakayama: "Breeding of Amino Acid Producing Micro-organisms", in: Overproduction of Microbial Products, Krumphanzl, Sikyta, Vanek (eds.), Academic Press, London, UK, 1982).

[0087] The microorganisms prepared according to the invention can be cultured continuously or discontinuously in the batch process (batch culture) or in the fed batch (feed process) or repeated fed batch process (repetitive feed process) for the purpose of production of amino acids, in particular L-methionine. A summary of known culture methods is described in the textbook by Chmiel (Bioprozesstechnik 1. Einfuhrung in die Bioverfahrenstechnik (Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1991)) or in the textbook by Storhas (Bioreaktoren und periphere Einrichtungen (Vieweg Verlag, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden, 1994)).

[0088] The culture medium to be used must meet the requirements of the particular strains in a suitable manner. Descriptions of culture media for various microorganisms are contained in the handbook "Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology" of the American Society for Bacteriology (Washington D.C., USA, 1981).

[0089] Sugars and carbohydrates, such as e.g. glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose, molasses, starch and cellulose, oils and fats, such as e.g. soya oil, sunflower oil, groundnut oil and coconut fat, fatty acids, such as e.g. palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid, alcohols, such as e.g. glycerol and ethanol, and organic acids, such as e.g. acetic acid, can be used as the source of carbon. These substances can be used individually or as a mixture.

[0090] Organic nitrogen-containing compounds, such as peptones, yeast extract, meat extract, malt extract, corn steep liquor, soya bean flour and urea, or inorganic compounds, such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium carbonate and ammonium nitrate, can be used as the source of nitrogen. The sources of nitrogen can be used individually or as a mixture.

[0091] Organic and inorganic sulfur-containing compounds, such as, for example, sulfides, sulfites, sulfates and thiosulfates, can be used as a source of sulfur, in particular for the preparation of methionine.

[0092] Phosphoric acid, potassium dihydrogen phosphate or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate or the corresponding sodium-containing salts can be used as the source of phosphorus. The culture medium must furthermore comprise salts of metals, such as e. g. magnesium sulfate or iron sulfate, which are necessary for growth. Finally, essential growth substances, such as amino acids and vitamins, can be employed in addition to the above-mentioned substances. Suitable precursors can moreover be added to the culture medium. The starting substances mentioned can be added to the culture in the form of a single batch, or can be fed in during the culture in a suitable manner.

[0093] Basic compounds, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia or aqueous ammonia, or acid compounds, such as phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid, can be employed in a suitable manner to control the pH of the culture. Antifoams, such as e.g. fatty acid polyglycol esters, can be employed to control the development of foam. Suitable substances having a selective action, such as e.g. antibiotics, can be added to the medium to maintain the stability of plasmids. To maintain aerobic conditions, oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixtures, such as e.g. air, are introduced into the culture. The temperature of the culture is usually 20.degree. C. to 45.degree. C., and preferably 25.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. Culturing is continued until a maximum of the desired product has formed. This target is usually reached within 10 hours to 160 hours.

[0094] The fermentation broths obtained in this way, in particular containing L-methionine, usually have a dry weight of 7.5 to 25 wt. % and contain L-methionine. It is furthermore also advantageous if the fermentation is conducted in a sugar-limited procedure at least at the end, but in particular over at least 30% of the duration of the fermentation. That is to say, the concentration of utilizable sugar in the fermentation medium is reduced to .gtoreq.0 to 3 g/l during this period.

[0095] The fermentation broth prepared in this manner, in particular containing L-methionine, is then further processed. Depending on requirements all or some of the biomass can be removed from the fermentation broth by separation methods, such as centrifugation, filtration, decanting or a combination thereof, or it can be left completely in. This broth is then thickened or concentrated by known methods, such as with the aid of a rotary evaporator, thin film evaporator, falling film evaporator, by reverse osmosis, or by nanofiltration. This concentrated fermentation broth can then be worked up by methods of freeze drying, spray drying, spray granulation or by other processes to give a preferably free-flowing, finely divided powder.

[0096] This free-flowing, finely divided powder can then in turn by converted by suitable compacting or granulating processes into a coarse-grained, readily free-flowing, storable and largely dust-free product. In the granulation or compacting it is advantageous to employ conventional organic or inorganic auxiliary substances or carriers, such as starch, gelatin, cellulose derivatives or similar substances, such as are conventionally used as binders, gelling agents or thickeners in foodstuffs or feedstuffs processing, or further substances, such as, for example, silicas, silicates or stearates.

[0097] "Free-flowing" is understood as meaning powders which flow unimpeded out of the vessel with the opening of 5 mm (millimeters) of a series of glass outflow vessels with outflow openings of various sizes (Klein, Seifen, le, Fette, Wachse 94, 12 (1968)).

[0098] As described here, "finely divided" means a powder with a predominant content (>50%) having a particle size of 20 to 200 .mu.m diameter. "Coarse-grained" means products with a predominant content (>50%) having a particle size of 200 to 2000 .mu.m diameter. In this context, "dust-free" means that the product contains only small contents (<5%) having particle sizes of less than 20 .mu.m diameter. The particle size determination can be carried out with methods of laser diffraction spectrometry. The corresponding methods are described in the textbook on "Teilchengro.beta.enmessung in der Laborpraxis" by R. H. Muller and R. Schuhmann, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart (1996) or in the textbook "Introduction to Particle Technology" by M. Rhodes, Verlag Wiley & Sons (1998).

[0099] "Storable" in the context of this invention means a product which can be stored for up to 120 days, preferably up to 52 weeks, particularly preferably 60 months, without a substantial loss (<5%) of methionine occurring.

[0100] Alternatively, however, the product can be absorbed on to an organic or inorganic carrier substance which is known and conventional in feedstuffs processing, for example, silicas, silicates, grits, brans, meals, starches, sugars or others, and/or mixed and stabilized with conventional thickeners or binders. Use examples and processes in this context are described in the literature (Die Muhle+Mischfuttertechnik 132 (1995) 49, page 817).

[0101] Finally, the product can be brought into a state in which it is stable to digestion by animal stomachs, in particular the stomach of ruminants, by coating processes ("coating") using film-forming agents, such as, for example, metal carbonates, silicas, silicates, alginates, stearates, starches, gums and cellulose ethers, as described in DE-C-4100920.

[0102] If the biomass is separated off during the process, further inorganic solids, for example added during the fermentation, are in general removed. In addition,. the animal feedstuffs additive according to the invention comprises at least the predominant proportion of the further substances, in particular organic substances, which are formed or added and are present in solution in the fermentation broth, where these have not been separated off by suitable processes.

[0103] In one aspect of the invention, the biomass can be separated off to the extent of up to 70%, preferably up to 80%, preferably up to 90%, preferably up to 95%, and particularly preferably up to 100%. In another aspect of the invention, up to 20% of the biomass, preferably up to 15%, preferably up to 10%, preferably up to 5%, particularly preferably no biomass is separated off.

[0104] These organic substances include organic by-products which are optionally produced, in addition to the L-methionine, and optionally discharged by the microorganisms employed in the fermentation. These include L-amino acids chosen from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-valine, L-threonine, L-alanine or L-tryptophan. They include vitamins chosen from the group consisting of vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin),vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), nicotinic acid/nicotinamide and vitamin E (tocopherol). They also include organic acids which carry one to three carboxyl groups, such as acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid or fumaric acid. Finally, they also include sugars, for example, trehalose. These compounds are optionally desired if they improve the nutritional value of the product.

[0105] These organic substances, including L-methionine and/or D-methionine and/or the racemic mixture D,L-methionine, can also be added, depending on requirements, as a concentrate or pure substance in solid or liquid form during a suitable process step. These organic substances mentioned can be added individually or as mixtures to the resulting or concentrated fermentation broth, or also during the drying or granulation process. It is likewise possible to add an organic substance or a mixture of several organic substances to the fermentation broth and a further organic substance or a further mixture of several organic substances during a later process step, for example granulation.

[0106] The product described above is suitable as a feedstuffs additive, i.e. feed additive, for animal nutrition.

[0107] The L-methionine content of the animal feedstuffs additive is conventionally 1 wt. % to 80 wt. %, preferably 2 wt. % to 80 wt. %, particularly preferably 4 wt. % to 80 wt. %, and very particularly preferably 8 wt. % to 80 wt. %, based on the dry weight of the animal feedstuffs additive. Contents of 1 wt. % to 60 wt. %, 2 wt. % to 60 wt. %, 4 wt. % to 60 wt. %, 6 wt. % to 60 wt. %, 1 wt. % to 40 wt. %, 2 wt. % to 40 wt. % or 4 wt. % to 40 wt. % are likewise possible. The water content of the feedstuffs additive is conventionally up to 5 wt. %, preferably up to 4 wt. %, and particularly preferably less than 2 wt. %.

[0108] The invention also provides a process for the preparation of an L-methionine-containing animal feedstuffs additive from fermentation broths, which comprises the steps

[0109] a) culture and fermentation of an L-methionine-producing microorganism in a fermentation medium;

[0110] b) removal of water from the L-methionine-containing fermentation broth (concentration);

[0111] c) removal of an amount of 0 to 100 wt. % of the biomass formed during the fermentation; and

[0112] d) drying of the fermentation broth obtained according to a) and/or b) to obtain the animal feedstuffs additive in the desired powder or granule form.

[0113] If desired, one or more of the following steps can furthermore be carried out in the process according to the invention:

[0114] e) addition of one or more organic substances, including L-methionine and/or D-methionine and/or the racemic mixture D,L-methionine, to the products obtained according to a), b) and/or c);

[0115] f) addition of auxiliary substances chosen from the group consisting of silicas, silicates, stearates, grits and bran to the substances obtained according to a) to d) for stabilization and to increase the storability; or

[0116] g) conversion of the substances obtained according to a) to e) into a form stable to the animal stomach, in particular rumen, by coating with film-forming agents.

[0117] The analysis of L-methionine can be carried out by ion exchange chromatography with subsequent ninhydrin derivation, as described by Spackman et al. (Analytical Chemistry, 30, (1958) , 1190).

[0118] The process according to the invention is used for the fermentative preparation of amino acids, in particular L-methionine.

[0119] The following microorganism was deposited as a pure culture on 14th Jun. 2001 at the Deutsche Sammlung fur Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen (DSMZ=German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany) in accordance with the Budapest Treaty:

[0120] Escherichia coli DH5.alpha.mcr/pCREmetH as DSM 14354.

[0121] The present invention is explained in more detail in the following with the aid of embodiment examples.

EXAMPLE 1

[0122] Preparation of a Genomic Cosmid Gene Library from Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032

[0123] Chromosomal DNA from Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was isolated as described by Tauch et al. (1995, Plasmid 33:168-179) and partly cleaved with the restriction enzyme Sau3AI (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description Sau3AI, Code no. 27-0913-02). The DNA fragments were dephosphorylated with shrimp alkaline phosphatase (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, Product Description SAP, Code no. 1758250).

[0124] The DNA of the cosmid vector SuperCosl (Wahl et al. (1987) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 84:2160-2164), obtained from Stratagene (La Jolla, USA, Product Description SuperCos1 Cosmid Vector Kit, Code no. 251301) was cleaved with the restriction enzyme XbaI (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description XbaI, Code no. 27-0948-02) and likewise dephosphorylated with shrimp alkaline phosphatase. The cosmid DNA was then cleaved with the restriction enzyme BamHI (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description BamHI, Code no. 27-0868-04). The cosmid DNA treated in this manner was mixed with the treated ATCC13032 DNA and the batch was treated with T4 DNA ligase (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description T4-DNA-Ligase, Code no.27-0870-04). The ligation mixture was then packed in phages with the aid of Gigapack II XL Packing Extract (Stratagene, La Jolla, USA, Product Description Gigapack II XL Packing Extract, Code no. 200217).

[0125] For infection of the E. coli strain NM554 (Raleigh et al. 1988, Nucleic Acid Research 16:1563-1575) the cells were taken up in 10 mM MgSO.sub.4 and mixed with an aliquot of the phage suspension. The infection and titering of the cosmid library were carried out as described by Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor), the cells being plated out on LB agar (Lennox, 1955, Virology, 1:190) with 100 mg/l ampicillin. After incubation overnight at 37.degree. C., recombinant individual clones were selected.

EXAMPLE 2

[0126] Isolation and Sequencing of the metH Gene

[0127] The cosmid DNA of an individual colony was isolated with the Qiaprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Product No. 27106, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and partly cleaved with the restriction enzyme Sau3AI (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description Sau3AI, Product No. 27-0913-02). The DNA fragments were dephosphorylated with shrimp alkaline phosphatase (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, Product Description SAP, Product No. 1758250). After separation by gel electrophoresis, the cosmid fragments in the size range of 1500 to 2000 bp were isolated with the QiaExII Gel Extraction Kit (Product No. 20021, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany).

[0128] The DNA of the sequencing vector pZero-1, obtained from Invitrogen (Groningen, The Netherlands, Product Description Zero Background Cloning Kit, Product No. K2500-01) was cleaved with the restriction enzyme BamHI (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description BamHI, Product No. 27-0868-04). The ligation of the cosmid fragments in the sequencing vector pZero-1 was carried out as described by Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor), the DNA mixture being incubated overnight with T4 ligase (Pharmacia Biotech, Freiburg, Germany). This ligation mixture was then electroporated (Tauch et al. 1994, FEMS Microbiol Letters, 123:343-7) into the E. coli strain DH5.alpha.mcr (Grant, 1990, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A., 87:4645-4649) and plated out on LB agar (Lennox, 1955, Virology, 1:190) with 50 mg/l zeocin.

[0129] The plasmid preparation of the recombinant clones was carried out with Biorobot 9600 (Product No. 900200, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) . The sequencing was carried out by the dideoxy chain termination method of Sanger et al. (1977, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A., 74:5463-5467) with modifications according to Zimmermann et al. (1990, Nucleic Acids Research, 18:1067). The "RR dRhodamin Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit" from PE Applied Biosystems (Product No. 403044, Weiterstadt, Germany) was used. The separation by gel electrophoresis and analysis of the sequencing reaction were carried out in a "Rotiphoresis NF Acrylamide/Bisacrylamide" Gel (29:1) (Product No. A124.1, Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany) with the "ABI Prism 377" sequencer from PE Applied Biosystems (Weiterstadt, Germany).

[0130] The raw sequence data obtained were then processed using the Staden program package (1986, Nucleic Acids Research, 14:217-231) version 97-0. The individual sequences of the pZero1 derivatives were assembled to a continuous contig. The computer-assisted coding region analysis was prepared with the XNIP program (Staden, 1986, Nucleic Acids Research, 14:217-231).

[0131] The resulting nucleotide sequence is shown in SEQ ID No. 1. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence showed an open reading frame of 3662 base pairs, which was called the metH gene. The metH gene codes for a protein of 1221 amino acids.

EXAMPLE 3

[0132] Preparation of the Strain C. glutamicum ATCC13032/pCREmetH

[0133] 3.1 Amplification of the metH Gene

[0134] From the strain ATCC13032, chromosomal DNA was isolated by the method of Eikmanns et al. (Microbiology 140: 1817-1828 (1994)). Starting from the nucleotide sequences of the methionine biosynthesis genes metH (SEQ ID No. 1) of C. glutamicum ATCC13032, the following oligonucleotides were chosen for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see SEQ ID No. 3 and SEQ ID No. 4):

1 metH-EVP5: 5'-GATCTAAGATCTAAAGGAGGACAACCATGTCTACTTCAGTTAC- TTCACCAGC-3' metH-EVP3: 5'-GATCTAGTCGACCCCTCTCAAAGG- TGTTAGAC-3'

[0135] The primers shown were synthesized by MWG-Biotech AG (Ebersberg, Germany) and the PCR reaction was carried out by the standard PCR method of Innis et al. (PCR Protocols. A Guide to Methods and Applications, 1990, Academic Press) with Pwo-Polymerase from Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Mannheim, Germany). With the aid of the polymerase chain reaction, the primers allow amplification of a DNA fragment 3718 bp in size, which carries the metH gene.

[0136] Furthermore, the primer metH-EVP5 contains the sequence for the cleavage site of the restriction endonuclease BglII and the primer metH-EVP3 the cleavage site of the restriction endonuclease SalI, which are marked by underlining in the nucleotide sequence shown above.

[0137] The metH fragment 3718 bp in size was cleaved with the restriction endonucleases BglII and SalI. The batch was separated by gel electrophoresis and the metH fragment (approx. 3700 bp) was then isolated from the agarose gel with the QiaExII Gel Extraction Kit (Product No. 20021, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany).

[0138] 3.2 Cloning of metH in the Vector pZ8-1

[0139] The E. coli -C. glutamicum shuttle expression vector pZ8-1 (EP 0 375 889) was used as the base vector for the expression.

[0140] DNA of the plasmid pZ8-1 was cleaved completely with the restriction enzymes BamHI and SalI and then dephosphorylated with shrimp alkaline phosphatase (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, Product Description SAP, Product No. 1758250).

[0141] The metH fragment approx. 3700 bp in size isolated from the agarose gel in example 3.1 and cleaved with the restriction endonucleases BglII and SalI was mixed with the vector pZ8-1 prepared in this way and the batch was treated with T4 DNA ligase (Amersham Pharmacia, Freiburg, Germany, Product Description T4-DNA-Ligase, Code no.27-0870-04).

[0142] The ligation batch was transformed in the E. coli strain DH5.alpha.mcr (Hanahan, In: DNA cloning. A Practical Approach. Vol. I. IRL-Press, Oxford, Washington DC, U.S.A.). Selection of plasmid-carrying cells was made by plating out the transformation batch on LB agar (Lennox, 1955, Virology, 1:190) with 50 mg/l kanamycin. After incubation overnight at 37.degree. C., recombinant individual clones were selected. Plasmid DNA was isolated from a transformant with the Qiaprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Product No. 27106, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and checked by restriction cleavage. The resulting plasmid was called pCREmetH. The strain E. coli DH5.alpha.mcr/pCREmetH was deposited as a pure culture on 14th Jun. 2001 at the Deutsche Sammlung fur Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen (DSMZ=German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany) in accordance with the Budapest Treaty as DSM 14354.

[0143] 3.3 Preparation of the Strain C. glutamicum ATCC13032/pCREmetH

[0144] The vector pCREmetH obtained in example 3.2 was electroporated in the strain C. glutamicum ATCC13032 using the electroporation method described by Liebl et al. (FEMS Microbiology Letters, 53:299-303 (1989)). Selection of the plasmid-carrying cells took place on LBHIS agar comprising 18.5 g/l brain-heart infusion broth, 0.5 M sorbitol, 5 g/l Bacto-tryptone, 2.5 g/l Bacto-yeast extract, 5 g/l NaCl and 18 g/l Bacto-agar, which had been supplemented with 25 mg/l kanamycin. Incubation was carried out for 2 days at 33.degree. C.

[0145] Plasmid DNA was isolated from a transformant by conventional methods (Peters-Wendisch et al., 1998, Microbiology 144, 915-927) and checked by restriction cleavage. The resulting strain was called ATCC13032pCREmetH.

EXAMPLE 4

[0146] Preparation of Methionine with the strain C. glutamicum ATCC13032/pCREmetH

[0147] The C. glutamicum strain ATCC13032/pCREmetH obtained in example 3 was cultured in a nutrient medium suitable for the production of methionine and the methionine content in the culture supernatant was determined.

[0148] For this, the strain was first incubated on an agar plate with the corresponding antibiotic (brain-heart agar with kanamycin (25 mg/l)) for 24 hours at 33.degree. C. Starting from this agar plate culture, a preculture was seeded (10 ml medium in a 100 ml conical flask). The medium MM was used as the medium for the preculture.

2 Medium MM CSL (corn steep liquor) 5 g/l MOPS (morpholinopropanesulfonic acid) 20 g/l Glucose (autoclaved separately) 50 g/l Salts: (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 25 g/l KH.sub.2PO.sub.4 0.1 g/l MgSO.sub.4 * 7 H.sub.2O 1.0 g/l CaCl.sub.2 * 2 H.sub.2O 10 mg/l FeSO.sub.4 * 7 H.sub.2O 10 mg/l MnSO.sub.4 * H.sub.2O 5.0 mg/l Biotin (sterile-filtered) 0.01 mg/l Vitamin B12 (sterile-filtered) 0.02 mg/l Thiamine * HCl (sterile-filtered) 0.2 mg/l CaCO.sub.3 25 g/l

[0149] The CSL, MOPS and the salt solution were brought to pH 7 with aqueous ammonia and autoclaved. The sterile substrate and vitamin solutions were then added, as well as the CaCO.sub.3 autoclaved in the dry state.

[0150] Kanamycin (25 mg/l) was added to this. The preculture was incubated for 16 hours at 33.degree. C. at 240 rpm on a shaking machine. A main culture was seeded from this preculture such that the initial OD (660 nm) of the main culture was 0.1. Medium MM was also used for the main culture.

[0151] Culturing is carried out in a 10 ml volume in a 100 ml conical flask with baffles. Kanamycin (25 mg/l) was added. Culturing was carried out at 33.degree. C. and 80% atmospheric humidity.

[0152] After 72 hours, the OD was determined at a measurement wavelength of 660 nm with a Biomek 1000 (Beckmann Instruments GmbH, Munich). The amount of methionine formed was determined with an amino acid analyzer from Eppendorf-BioTronik (Hamburg, Germany) by ion exchange chromatography and post-column derivation with ninhydrin detection.

[0153] The result of the experiment is shown in table 1.

3 TABLE 1 OD Methionine Strain (660 nm) mg/l ATCC13032 12.3 1.4 ATCC13032/pCREmetH 14.3 5.3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

[0154] FIG. 1: Plasmid pCREmetH

[0155] The abbreviations used in the figures have the following meaning:

4 Km: Resistance gene for kanamycin metH: metH gene of C. glutamicum Ptac: tac promoter T1 T2: Terminator T1T2 of the rrnB gene of E. coli rep: Plasmid-coded replication origin for C. glutamicum (of pHM1519) EcoRI: Cleavage site of the restriction enzyme EcoRI SalI: Cleavage site of the restriction enzyme SalI

[0156] This disclosure is based on priority documents DE 100 38 050.6, DE 101 09 687.9 and U.S. Pat. No. 60/294,251, each incorporated by reference.

[0157] Obviously, numerous modifications of the invention are possible in view of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Sequence CWU 1

1

4 1 4301 DNA Corynebacterium glutamicum CDS (385)..(4047) 1 taagggtttt ggaggcattg gccgcgaacc catcgctggt catcccgggt ttgcgcatgc 60 cacgttcgta ttcataacca atcgcgatgc cttgagccca ccagccactg acatcaaagt 120 tgtccacgat gtgctttgcg atgtgggtgt gagtccaaga ggtggctttt acgtcgtcaa 180 gcaattttag ccactcttcc cacggctttc cggtgccgtt gaggatagct tcaggggaca 240 tgcctggtgt tgagccttgc ggagtggagt cagtcatgcg accgagacta gtggcgcttt 300 gcctgtgttg cttaggcggc gttgaaaatg aactacgaat gaaaagttcg ggaattgtct 360 aatccgtact aagctgtcta caca atg tct act tca gtt act tca cca gcc 411 Met Ser Thr Ser Val Thr Ser Pro Ala 1 5 cac aac aac gca cat tcc tcc gaa ttt ttg gat gcg ttg gca aac cat 459 His Asn Asn Ala His Ser Ser Glu Phe Leu Asp Ala Leu Ala Asn His 10 15 20 25 gtg ttg atc ggc gac ggc gcc atg ggc acc cag ctc caa ggc ttt gac 507 Val Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly Ala Met Gly Thr Gln Leu Gln Gly Phe Asp 30 35 40 ctg gac gtg gaa aag gat ttc ctt gat ctg gag ggg tgt aat gag att 555 Leu Asp Val Glu Lys Asp Phe Leu Asp Leu Glu Gly Cys Asn Glu Ile 45 50 55 ctc aac gac acc cgc cct gat gtg ttg agg cag att cac cgc gcc tac 603 Leu Asn Asp Thr Arg Pro Asp Val Leu Arg Gln Ile His Arg Ala Tyr 60 65 70 ttt gag gcg gga gct gac ttg gtt gag acc aat act ttt ggt tgc aac 651 Phe Glu Ala Gly Ala Asp Leu Val Glu Thr Asn Thr Phe Gly Cys Asn 75 80 85 ctg ccg aac ttg gcg gat tat gac atc gct gat cgt tgc cgt gag ctt 699 Leu Pro Asn Leu Ala Asp Tyr Asp Ile Ala Asp Arg Cys Arg Glu Leu 90 95 100 105 gcc tac aag ggc act gca gtg gct agg gaa gtg gct gat gag atg ggg 747 Ala Tyr Lys Gly Thr Ala Val Ala Arg Glu Val Ala Asp Glu Met Gly 110 115 120 ccg ggc cga aac ggc atg cgg cgt ttc gtg gtt ggt tcc ctg gga cct 795 Pro Gly Arg Asn Gly Met Arg Arg Phe Val Val Gly Ser Leu Gly Pro 125 130 135 gga acg aag ctt cca tcg ctg ggc cat gca ccg tat gca gat ttg cgt 843 Gly Thr Lys Leu Pro Ser Leu Gly His Ala Pro Tyr Ala Asp Leu Arg 140 145 150 ggg cac tac aag gaa gca gcg ctt ggc atc atc gac ggt ggt ggc gat 891 Gly His Tyr Lys Glu Ala Ala Leu Gly Ile Ile Asp Gly Gly Gly Asp 155 160 165 gcc ttt ttg att gag act gct cag gac ttg ctt cag gtc aag gct gcg 939 Ala Phe Leu Ile Glu Thr Ala Gln Asp Leu Leu Gln Val Lys Ala Ala 170 175 180 185 gtt cac ggc gtt caa gat gcc atg gct gaa ctt gat aca ttc ttg ccc 987 Val His Gly Val Gln Asp Ala Met Ala Glu Leu Asp Thr Phe Leu Pro 190 195 200 att att tgc cac gtc acc gta gag acc acc ggc acc atg ctc atg ggt 1035 Ile Ile Cys His Val Thr Val Glu Thr Thr Gly Thr Met Leu Met Gly 205 210 215 tct gag atc ggt gcc gcg ttg aca gcg ctg cag cca ctg ggt atc gac 1083 Ser Glu Ile Gly Ala Ala Leu Thr Ala Leu Gln Pro Leu Gly Ile Asp 220 225 230 atg att ggt ctg aac tgc gcc acc ggc cca gat gag atg agc gag cac 1131 Met Ile Gly Leu Asn Cys Ala Thr Gly Pro Asp Glu Met Ser Glu His 235 240 245 ctg cgt tac ctg tcc aag cac gcc gat att cct gtg tcg gtg atg cct 1179 Leu Arg Tyr Leu Ser Lys His Ala Asp Ile Pro Val Ser Val Met Pro 250 255 260 265 aac gca ggt ctt cct gtc ctg ggt aaa aac ggt gca gaa tac cca ctt 1227 Asn Ala Gly Leu Pro Val Leu Gly Lys Asn Gly Ala Glu Tyr Pro Leu 270 275 280 gag gct gag gat ttg gcg cag gcg ctg gct gga ttc gtc tcc gaa tat 1275 Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu Ala Gln Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Val Ser Glu Tyr 285 290 295 ggc ctg tcc atg gtg ggt ggt tgt tgt ggc acc aca cct gag cac atc 1323 Gly Leu Ser Met Val Gly Gly Cys Cys Gly Thr Thr Pro Glu His Ile 300 305 310 cgt gcg gtc cgc gat gcg gtg gtt ggt gtt cca gag cag gaa acc tcc 1371 Arg Ala Val Arg Asp Ala Val Val Gly Val Pro Glu Gln Glu Thr Ser 315 320 325 aca ctg acc aag atc cct gca ggc cct gtt gag cag gcc tcc cgc gag 1419 Thr Leu Thr Lys Ile Pro Ala Gly Pro Val Glu Gln Ala Ser Arg Glu 330 335 340 345 gtg gag aaa gag gac tcc gtc gcg tcg ctg tac acc tcg gtg cca ttg 1467 Val Glu Lys Glu Asp Ser Val Ala Ser Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val Pro Leu 350 355 360 tcc cag gaa acc ggc att tcc atg atc ggt gag cgc acc aac tcc aac 1515 Ser Gln Glu Thr Gly Ile Ser Met Ile Gly Glu Arg Thr Asn Ser Asn 365 370 375 ggt tcc aag gca ttc cgt gag gca atg ctg tct ggc gat tgg gaa aag 1563 Gly Ser Lys Ala Phe Arg Glu Ala Met Leu Ser Gly Asp Trp Glu Lys 380 385 390 tgt gtg gat att gcc aag cag caa acc cgc gat ggt gca cac atg ctg 1611 Cys Val Asp Ile Ala Lys Gln Gln Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala His Met Leu 395 400 405 gat ctt tgt gtg gat tac gtg gga cga gac ggc acc gcc gat atg gcg 1659 Asp Leu Cys Val Asp Tyr Val Gly Arg Asp Gly Thr Ala Asp Met Ala 410 415 420 425 acc ttg gca gca ctt ctt gct acc agc tcc act ttg cca atc atg att 1707 Thr Leu Ala Ala Leu Leu Ala Thr Ser Ser Thr Leu Pro Ile Met Ile 430 435 440 gac tcc acc gag cca gag gtt att cgc aca ggc ctt gag cac ttg ggt 1755 Asp Ser Thr Glu Pro Glu Val Ile Arg Thr Gly Leu Glu His Leu Gly 445 450 455 gga cga agc atc gtt aac tcc gtc aac ttt gaa gac ggc gat ggc cct 1803 Gly Arg Ser Ile Val Asn Ser Val Asn Phe Glu Asp Gly Asp Gly Pro 460 465 470 gag tcc cgc tac cag cgc atc atg aaa ctg gta aag cag cac ggt gcg 1851 Glu Ser Arg Tyr Gln Arg Ile Met Lys Leu Val Lys Gln His Gly Ala 475 480 485 gcc gtg gtt gcg ctg acc att gat gag gaa ggc cag gca cgt acc gct 1899 Ala Val Val Ala Leu Thr Ile Asp Glu Glu Gly Gln Ala Arg Thr Ala 490 495 500 505 gag cac aag gtg cgc att gct aaa cga ctg att gac gat atc acc ggc 1947 Glu His Lys Val Arg Ile Ala Lys Arg Leu Ile Asp Asp Ile Thr Gly 510 515 520 agc tac ggc ctg gat atc aaa gac atc gtt gtg gac tgc ctg acc ttc 1995 Ser Tyr Gly Leu Asp Ile Lys Asp Ile Val Val Asp Cys Leu Thr Phe 525 530 535 ccg atc tct act ggc cag gaa gaa acc agg cga gat ggc att gaa acc 2043 Pro Ile Ser Thr Gly Gln Glu Glu Thr Arg Arg Asp Gly Ile Glu Thr 540 545 550 atc gaa gcc atc cgc gag ctg aag aag ctc tac cca gaa atc cac acc 2091 Ile Glu Ala Ile Arg Glu Leu Lys Lys Leu Tyr Pro Glu Ile His Thr 555 560 565 acc ctg ggt ctg tcc aat att tcc ttc ggc ctg aac cct gct gca cgc 2139 Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Asn Ile Ser Phe Gly Leu Asn Pro Ala Ala Arg 570 575 580 585 cag gtt ctt aac tct gtg ttc ctc aat gag tgc att gag gct ggt ctg 2187 Gln Val Leu Asn Ser Val Phe Leu Asn Glu Cys Ile Glu Ala Gly Leu 590 595 600 gac tct gcg att gcg cac agc tcc aag att ttg ccg atg aac cgc att 2235 Asp Ser Ala Ile Ala His Ser Ser Lys Ile Leu Pro Met Asn Arg Ile 605 610 615 gat gat cgc cag cgc gaa gtg gcg ttg gat atg gtc tat gat cgc cgc 2283 Asp Asp Arg Gln Arg Glu Val Ala Leu Asp Met Val Tyr Asp Arg Arg 620 625 630 acc gag gat tac gat ccg ctg cag gaa ttc atg cag ctg ttt gag ggc 2331 Thr Glu Asp Tyr Asp Pro Leu Gln Glu Phe Met Gln Leu Phe Glu Gly 635 640 645 gtt tct gct gcc gat gcc aag gat gct cgc gct gaa cag ctg gcc gct 2379 Val Ser Ala Ala Asp Ala Lys Asp Ala Arg Ala Glu Gln Leu Ala Ala 650 655 660 665 atg cct ttg ttt gag cgt ttg gca cag cgc atc atc gac ggc gat aag 2427 Met Pro Leu Phe Glu Arg Leu Ala Gln Arg Ile Ile Asp Gly Asp Lys 670 675 680 aat ggc ctt gag gat gat ctg gaa gca ggc atg aag gag aag tct cct 2475 Asn Gly Leu Glu Asp Asp Leu Glu Ala Gly Met Lys Glu Lys Ser Pro 685 690 695 att gcg atc atc aac gag gac ctt ctc aac ggc atg aag acc gtg ggt 2523 Ile Ala Ile Ile Asn Glu Asp Leu Leu Asn Gly Met Lys Thr Val Gly 700 705 710 gag ctg ttt ggt tcc gga cag atg cag ctg cca ttc gtg ctg caa tcg 2571 Glu Leu Phe Gly Ser Gly Gln Met Gln Leu Pro Phe Val Leu Gln Ser 715 720 725 gca gaa acc atg aaa act gcg gtg gcc tat ttg gaa ccg ttc atg gaa 2619 Ala Glu Thr Met Lys Thr Ala Val Ala Tyr Leu Glu Pro Phe Met Glu 730 735 740 745 gag gaa gca gaa gct acc gga tct gcg cag gca gag ggc aag ggc aaa 2667 Glu Glu Ala Glu Ala Thr Gly Ser Ala Gln Ala Glu Gly Lys Gly Lys 750 755 760 atc gtc gtg gcc acc gtc aag ggt gac gtg cac gat atc ggc aag aac 2715 Ile Val Val Ala Thr Val Lys Gly Asp Val His Asp Ile Gly Lys Asn 765 770 775 ttg gtg gac atc att ttg tcc aac aac ggt tac gac gtg gtg aac ttg 2763 Leu Val Asp Ile Ile Leu Ser Asn Asn Gly Tyr Asp Val Val Asn Leu 780 785 790 ggc atc aag cag cca ctg tcc gcc atg ttg gaa gca gcg gaa gaa cac 2811 Gly Ile Lys Gln Pro Leu Ser Ala Met Leu Glu Ala Ala Glu Glu His 795 800 805 aaa gca gac gtc atc ggc atg tcg gga ctt ctt gtg aag tcc acc gtg 2859 Lys Ala Asp Val Ile Gly Met Ser Gly Leu Leu Val Lys Ser Thr Val 810 815 820 825 gtg atg aag gaa aac ctt gag gag atg aac aac gcc ggc gca tcc aat 2907 Val Met Lys Glu Asn Leu Glu Glu Met Asn Asn Ala Gly Ala Ser Asn 830 835 840 tac cca gtc att ttg ggt ggc gct gcg ctg acg cgt acc tac gtg gaa 2955 Tyr Pro Val Ile Leu Gly Gly Ala Ala Leu Thr Arg Thr Tyr Val Glu 845 850 855 aac gat ctc aac gag gtg tac acc ggt gag gtg tac tac gcc cgt gat 3003 Asn Asp Leu Asn Glu Val Tyr Thr Gly Glu Val Tyr Tyr Ala Arg Asp 860 865 870 gct ttc gag ggc ctg cgc ctg atg gat gag gtg atg gca gaa aag cgt 3051 Ala Phe Glu Gly Leu Arg Leu Met Asp Glu Val Met Ala Glu Lys Arg 875 880 885 ggt gaa gga ctt gat ccc aac tca cca gaa gct att gag cag gcg aag 3099 Gly Glu Gly Leu Asp Pro Asn Ser Pro Glu Ala Ile Glu Gln Ala Lys 890 895 900 905 aag aag gcg gaa cgt aag gct cgt aat gag cgt tcc cgc aag att gcc 3147 Lys Lys Ala Glu Arg Lys Ala Arg Asn Glu Arg Ser Arg Lys Ile Ala 910 915 920 gcg gag cgt aaa gct aat gcg gct ccc gtg att gtt ccg gag cgt tct 3195 Ala Glu Arg Lys Ala Asn Ala Ala Pro Val Ile Val Pro Glu Arg Ser 925 930 935 gat gtc tcc acc gat act cca acc gcg gca cca ccg ttc tgg gga acc 3243 Asp Val Ser Thr Asp Thr Pro Thr Ala Ala Pro Pro Phe Trp Gly Thr 940 945 950 cgc att gtc aag ggt ctg ccc ttg gcg gag ttc ttg ggc aac ctt gat 3291 Arg Ile Val Lys Gly Leu Pro Leu Ala Glu Phe Leu Gly Asn Leu Asp 955 960 965 gag cgc gcc ttg ttc atg ggg cag tgg ggt ctg aaa tcc acc cgc ggc 3339 Glu Arg Ala Leu Phe Met Gly Gln Trp Gly Leu Lys Ser Thr Arg Gly 970 975 980 985 aac gag ggt cca agc tat gag gat ttg gtg gaa act gaa ggc cga cca 3387 Asn Glu Gly Pro Ser Tyr Glu Asp Leu Val Glu Thr Glu Gly Arg Pro 990 995 1000 cgc ctg cgc tac tgg ctg gat cgc ctg aag tct gag ggc att ttg 3432 Arg Leu Arg Tyr Trp Leu Asp Arg Leu Lys Ser Glu Gly Ile Leu 1005 1010 1015 gac cac gtg gcc ttg gtg tat ggc tac ttc cca gcg gtc gcg gaa 3477 Asp His Val Ala Leu Val Tyr Gly Tyr Phe Pro Ala Val Ala Glu 1020 1025 1030 ggc gat gac gtg gtg atc ttg gaa tcc ccg gat cca cac gca gcc 3522 Gly Asp Asp Val Val Ile Leu Glu Ser Pro Asp Pro His Ala Ala 1035 1040 1045 gaa cgc atg cgc ttt agc ttc cca cgc cag cag cgc ggc agg ttc 3567 Glu Arg Met Arg Phe Ser Phe Pro Arg Gln Gln Arg Gly Arg Phe 1050 1055 1060 ttg tgc atc gcg gat ttc att cgc cca cgc gag caa gct gtc aag 3612 Leu Cys Ile Ala Asp Phe Ile Arg Pro Arg Glu Gln Ala Val Lys 1065 1070 1075 gac ggc caa gtg gac gtc atg cca ttc cag ctg gtc acc atg ggt 3657 Asp Gly Gln Val Asp Val Met Pro Phe Gln Leu Val Thr Met Gly 1080 1085 1090 aat cct att gct gat ttc gcc aac gag ttg ttc gca gcc aat gaa 3702 Asn Pro Ile Ala Asp Phe Ala Asn Glu Leu Phe Ala Ala Asn Glu 1095 1100 1105 tac cgc gag tac ttg gaa gtt cac ggc atc ggc gtg cag ctc acc 3747 Tyr Arg Glu Tyr Leu Glu Val His Gly Ile Gly Val Gln Leu Thr 1110 1115 1120 gaa gca ttg gcc gag tac tgg cac tcc cga gtg cgc agc gaa ctc 3792 Glu Ala Leu Ala Glu Tyr Trp His Ser Arg Val Arg Ser Glu Leu 1125 1130 1135 aag ctg aac gac ggt gga tct gtc gct gat ttt gat cca gaa gac 3837 Lys Leu Asn Asp Gly Gly Ser Val Ala Asp Phe Asp Pro Glu Asp 1140 1145 1150 aag acc aag ttc ttc gac ctg gat tac cgc ggc gcc cgc ttc tcc 3882 Lys Thr Lys Phe Phe Asp Leu Asp Tyr Arg Gly Ala Arg Phe Ser 1155 1160 1165 ttt ggt tac ggt tct tgc cct gat ctg gaa gac cgc gca aag ctg 3927 Phe Gly Tyr Gly Ser Cys Pro Asp Leu Glu Asp Arg Ala Lys Leu 1170 1175 1180 gtg gaa ttg ctc gag cca ggc cgt atc ggc gtg gag ttg tcc gag 3972 Val Glu Leu Leu Glu Pro Gly Arg Ile Gly Val Glu Leu Ser Glu 1185 1190 1195 gaa ctc cag ctg cac cca gag cag tcc aca gac gcg ttt gtg ctc 4017 Glu Leu Gln Leu His Pro Glu Gln Ser Thr Asp Ala Phe Val Leu 1200 1205 1210 tac cac cca gag gca aag tac ttt aac gtc taacaccttt gagagggaaa 4067 Tyr His Pro Glu Ala Lys Tyr Phe Asn Val 1215 1220 actttcccgc acattgcaga tcgtgccact ttaactaagg ttgacggcat gattaaggcg 4127 attttctggg acatggacgg cacgatggtg gactctgagc cacagtgggg cattgctacc 4187 tacgagctca gcgaagccat gggccgccgc ctcaccccgg agctccggga actcaccgtc 4247 ggctcgagcc tgccgcgcac catgcgctta tgcgcagagc acgcaggcat taca 4301 2 1221 PRT Corynebacterium glutamicum 2 Met Ser Thr Ser Val Thr Ser Pro Ala His Asn Asn Ala His Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Glu Phe Leu Asp Ala Leu Ala Asn His Val Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly Ala 20 25 30 Met Gly Thr Gln Leu Gln Gly Phe Asp Leu Asp Val Glu Lys Asp Phe 35 40 45 Leu Asp Leu Glu Gly Cys Asn Glu Ile Leu Asn Asp Thr Arg Pro Asp 50 55 60 Val Leu Arg Gln Ile His Arg Ala Tyr Phe Glu Ala Gly Ala Asp Leu 65 70 75 80 Val Glu Thr Asn Thr Phe Gly Cys Asn Leu Pro Asn Leu Ala Asp Tyr 85 90 95 Asp Ile Ala Asp Arg Cys Arg Glu Leu Ala Tyr Lys Gly Thr Ala Val 100 105 110 Ala Arg Glu Val Ala Asp Glu Met Gly Pro Gly Arg Asn Gly Met Arg 115 120 125 Arg Phe Val Val Gly Ser Leu Gly Pro Gly Thr Lys Leu Pro Ser Leu 130 135 140 Gly His Ala Pro Tyr Ala Asp Leu Arg Gly His Tyr Lys Glu Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Leu Gly Ile Ile Asp Gly Gly Gly Asp Ala Phe Leu Ile Glu Thr Ala 165 170 175 Gln Asp Leu Leu Gln Val Lys Ala Ala Val His Gly Val Gln Asp Ala 180 185 190 Met Ala Glu Leu Asp Thr Phe Leu Pro Ile Ile Cys His Val Thr Val 195 200 205 Glu Thr Thr Gly Thr Met Leu Met Gly Ser Glu Ile Gly Ala Ala Leu 210 215 220 Thr Ala Leu Gln Pro Leu Gly Ile Asp Met Ile Gly Leu Asn Cys Ala 225 230 235 240 Thr Gly Pro Asp Glu Met Ser Glu His Leu Arg Tyr Leu Ser Lys His 245 250 255 Ala Asp Ile Pro Val Ser Val Met Pro Asn Ala Gly Leu Pro Val Leu 260 265 270 Gly Lys Asn Gly Ala Glu Tyr Pro Leu Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu Ala Gln 275 280 285 Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Val Ser Glu Tyr Gly Leu Ser Met Val Gly Gly 290 295 300 Cys Cys Gly Thr Thr Pro Glu His Ile Arg Ala Val Arg Asp Ala Val 305 310 315 320 Val Gly Val Pro Glu Gln Glu Thr Ser Thr Leu Thr Lys Ile Pro Ala

325 330 335 Gly Pro Val Glu Gln Ala Ser Arg Glu Val Glu Lys Glu Asp Ser Val 340 345 350 Ala Ser Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val Pro Leu Ser Gln Glu Thr Gly Ile Ser 355 360 365 Met Ile Gly Glu Arg Thr Asn Ser Asn Gly Ser Lys Ala Phe Arg Glu 370 375 380 Ala Met Leu Ser Gly Asp Trp Glu Lys Cys Val Asp Ile Ala Lys Gln 385 390 395 400 Gln Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala His Met Leu Asp Leu Cys Val Asp Tyr Val 405 410 415 Gly Arg Asp Gly Thr Ala Asp Met Ala Thr Leu Ala Ala Leu Leu Ala 420 425 430 Thr Ser Ser Thr Leu Pro Ile Met Ile Asp Ser Thr Glu Pro Glu Val 435 440 445 Ile Arg Thr Gly Leu Glu His Leu Gly Gly Arg Ser Ile Val Asn Ser 450 455 460 Val Asn Phe Glu Asp Gly Asp Gly Pro Glu Ser Arg Tyr Gln Arg Ile 465 470 475 480 Met Lys Leu Val Lys Gln His Gly Ala Ala Val Val Ala Leu Thr Ile 485 490 495 Asp Glu Glu Gly Gln Ala Arg Thr Ala Glu His Lys Val Arg Ile Ala 500 505 510 Lys Arg Leu Ile Asp Asp Ile Thr Gly Ser Tyr Gly Leu Asp Ile Lys 515 520 525 Asp Ile Val Val Asp Cys Leu Thr Phe Pro Ile Ser Thr Gly Gln Glu 530 535 540 Glu Thr Arg Arg Asp Gly Ile Glu Thr Ile Glu Ala Ile Arg Glu Leu 545 550 555 560 Lys Lys Leu Tyr Pro Glu Ile His Thr Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Asn Ile 565 570 575 Ser Phe Gly Leu Asn Pro Ala Ala Arg Gln Val Leu Asn Ser Val Phe 580 585 590 Leu Asn Glu Cys Ile Glu Ala Gly Leu Asp Ser Ala Ile Ala His Ser 595 600 605 Ser Lys Ile Leu Pro Met Asn Arg Ile Asp Asp Arg Gln Arg Glu Val 610 615 620 Ala Leu Asp Met Val Tyr Asp Arg Arg Thr Glu Asp Tyr Asp Pro Leu 625 630 635 640 Gln Glu Phe Met Gln Leu Phe Glu Gly Val Ser Ala Ala Asp Ala Lys 645 650 655 Asp Ala Arg Ala Glu Gln Leu Ala Ala Met Pro Leu Phe Glu Arg Leu 660 665 670 Ala Gln Arg Ile Ile Asp Gly Asp Lys Asn Gly Leu Glu Asp Asp Leu 675 680 685 Glu Ala Gly Met Lys Glu Lys Ser Pro Ile Ala Ile Ile Asn Glu Asp 690 695 700 Leu Leu Asn Gly Met Lys Thr Val Gly Glu Leu Phe Gly Ser Gly Gln 705 710 715 720 Met Gln Leu Pro Phe Val Leu Gln Ser Ala Glu Thr Met Lys Thr Ala 725 730 735 Val Ala Tyr Leu Glu Pro Phe Met Glu Glu Glu Ala Glu Ala Thr Gly 740 745 750 Ser Ala Gln Ala Glu Gly Lys Gly Lys Ile Val Val Ala Thr Val Lys 755 760 765 Gly Asp Val His Asp Ile Gly Lys Asn Leu Val Asp Ile Ile Leu Ser 770 775 780 Asn Asn Gly Tyr Asp Val Val Asn Leu Gly Ile Lys Gln Pro Leu Ser 785 790 795 800 Ala Met Leu Glu Ala Ala Glu Glu His Lys Ala Asp Val Ile Gly Met 805 810 815 Ser Gly Leu Leu Val Lys Ser Thr Val Val Met Lys Glu Asn Leu Glu 820 825 830 Glu Met Asn Asn Ala Gly Ala Ser Asn Tyr Pro Val Ile Leu Gly Gly 835 840 845 Ala Ala Leu Thr Arg Thr Tyr Val Glu Asn Asp Leu Asn Glu Val Tyr 850 855 860 Thr Gly Glu Val Tyr Tyr Ala Arg Asp Ala Phe Glu Gly Leu Arg Leu 865 870 875 880 Met Asp Glu Val Met Ala Glu Lys Arg Gly Glu Gly Leu Asp Pro Asn 885 890 895 Ser Pro Glu Ala Ile Glu Gln Ala Lys Lys Lys Ala Glu Arg Lys Ala 900 905 910 Arg Asn Glu Arg Ser Arg Lys Ile Ala Ala Glu Arg Lys Ala Asn Ala 915 920 925 Ala Pro Val Ile Val Pro Glu Arg Ser Asp Val Ser Thr Asp Thr Pro 930 935 940 Thr Ala Ala Pro Pro Phe Trp Gly Thr Arg Ile Val Lys Gly Leu Pro 945 950 955 960 Leu Ala Glu Phe Leu Gly Asn Leu Asp Glu Arg Ala Leu Phe Met Gly 965 970 975 Gln Trp Gly Leu Lys Ser Thr Arg Gly Asn Glu Gly Pro Ser Tyr Glu 980 985 990 Asp Leu Val Glu Thr Glu Gly Arg Pro Arg Leu Arg Tyr Trp Leu Asp 995 1000 1005 Arg Leu Lys Ser Glu Gly Ile Leu Asp His Val Ala Leu Val Tyr 1010 1015 1020 Gly Tyr Phe Pro Ala Val Ala Glu Gly Asp Asp Val Val Ile Leu 1025 1030 1035 Glu Ser Pro Asp Pro His Ala Ala Glu Arg Met Arg Phe Ser Phe 1040 1045 1050 Pro Arg Gln Gln Arg Gly Arg Phe Leu Cys Ile Ala Asp Phe Ile 1055 1060 1065 Arg Pro Arg Glu Gln Ala Val Lys Asp Gly Gln Val Asp Val Met 1070 1075 1080 Pro Phe Gln Leu Val Thr Met Gly Asn Pro Ile Ala Asp Phe Ala 1085 1090 1095 Asn Glu Leu Phe Ala Ala Asn Glu Tyr Arg Glu Tyr Leu Glu Val 1100 1105 1110 His Gly Ile Gly Val Gln Leu Thr Glu Ala Leu Ala Glu Tyr Trp 1115 1120 1125 His Ser Arg Val Arg Ser Glu Leu Lys Leu Asn Asp Gly Gly Ser 1130 1135 1140 Val Ala Asp Phe Asp Pro Glu Asp Lys Thr Lys Phe Phe Asp Leu 1145 1150 1155 Asp Tyr Arg Gly Ala Arg Phe Ser Phe Gly Tyr Gly Ser Cys Pro 1160 1165 1170 Asp Leu Glu Asp Arg Ala Lys Leu Val Glu Leu Leu Glu Pro Gly 1175 1180 1185 Arg Ile Gly Val Glu Leu Ser Glu Glu Leu Gln Leu His Pro Glu 1190 1195 1200 Gln Ser Thr Asp Ala Phe Val Leu Tyr His Pro Glu Ala Lys Tyr 1205 1210 1215 Phe Asn Val 1220 3 52 DNA Artificial sequence Synthetic DNA 3 gatctaagat ctaaaggagg acaaccatgt ctacttcagt tacttcacca gc 52 4 32 DNA Artificial sequence Synthetic DNA 4 gatctagtcg acccctctca aaggtgttag ac 32

Claims

1-34. (canceled)

35. A nucleic acid comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.

36. The nucleic acid of claim 35, which comprises at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.

37. The nucleic acid of claim 35, which comprises at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.

38. The nucleic acid of claim 35, which comprises at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.

39. The nucleic acid of claim 35 which comprises at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2.

40. The nucleic acid of claim 35 which comprises at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the full complement of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2.

41. A method of identifying a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyltransferase II activity, comprising probing a nucleic acid sample with the nucleic acid of claim 35.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said nucleic acid sample comprises RNA, DNA or cDNA.

43. A method for producing a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyltransferase II activity, comprising priming a nucleic acid sample with the nucleic acid of claim 35.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said nucleic acid sample comprises RNA, DNA or cDNA.

45. A process for preparing an L-methionine-containing animal feedstuffs additive, comprising: a) culturing an L-methionine-producing microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce a fermented medium containing L-methionine, b) removing water from the fermented medium (concentration); c) removing 0 to 100 wt. % of the biomass from the fermented medium; and/or d) drying the fermented medium, optionally to form a powder or granules.

46. The process of claim 45, wherein the expression of at least one gene in the biosynthesis pathway for L-methionine in said microorganism is enhanced.

47. The process of claim 46, wherein said gene is selected from the group consisting of: the lysC gene which codes for a feed back resistant aspartate kinase, the gap gene which codes for glycerolaldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the pgk gene which codes for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the pyc gene which codes for pyruvate carboxylase, the tpi gene which codes for triose phosphate isomerase the metA gene which codes for homoserine 0-acetyltransferase the metB gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-synthase aecD gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-lyase glyA gene which codes for serine hydroxymethyltransferase and metY gene which codes for 0-acetylhomoserine-sulfhydrylase.

48. The process of claim 45, wherein the expression of at least one gene which decreases L-methionine levels in said microorganism is reduced or eliminated.

49. The process of claim 48, wherein said gene is selected from the group consisting of: the thrB gene which codes for homoserine kinase the ilvA gene which codes for threonine dehydratase the thrC gene which codes for threonine synthase the ddh gene which codes for meso-diaminopimelate D-dehydrogenase the pck gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase the pgi gene which codes for glucose 6-phosphate isomerase and the poxB gene which codes for pyruvate oxidase.

50. The process of claim 45, wherein expression of the polynucleotide encoding the metF gene product is enhanced.

51. The process of claim 45, wherein microorganisms of the species Corynebacterium glutamicum are employed.

52. The process of claim 51, wherein the Corynebacterium glutamicum strain ATCC13032/pCREmetF is employed.

53. The process of claim 45, further comprising at least one of the following steps: e) adding at least one organic substance to the product obtained by steps b), c) and/or d); f) adding at least one auxiliary substance selected from the group consisting of silicas, silicates, stearates, grits and bran to the product obtained by steps to b), c), d) and/or e); and/or g) coating the product obtained by steps b), c), d), e) and/or f) with a film-forming agent.

54. The process of claim 53, wherein the film-forming agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of metal carbonates, silicas, silicates, alginates, stearates, starches, gums and cellulose ethers.

55. The process of claim 45, wherein a portion of the biomass is removed.

56. The process of claim 45, wherein essentially 100% of the biomass is removed.

57. The process as claimed in claim 45, wherein the water content in said feedstuff additive is up to 5 wt. %.

58. The process of claim 45, wherein the water content in said feedstuff additive is less than 2 wt. %.

59. An animal feedstuffs additive prepared by the process of claim 45.

60. The animal feedstuffs additive of claim 59, which comprises 1 wt. % to 80 wt. % L-methionine, D-methionine, D,L-methionine or a mixture thereof, based on its dry weight.