Studies on the Enzymatic Production of L-Aspartic Acid from Maleic Acid Part I

The enzymatic production of L-aspartic acid from maleic acid with cell suspensions of Alcaligenes faecalis 5-24, isolated from solid by the authors, was investigated. The optimum conditions of this reaction and some cultural conditions which influenced on the ability of the cells to catalyze the above reaction were mainly studied. The cells grown on maleic acid as a sole source of carbon showed exclusively the strong ability. The cells grown on a carbon source other than maleic acid showed no activity of this reaction. It was concluded that an inducibles enzyme whose formation was stimulated by the presence of maleic acid might be involved in the reaction for the production of L-aspartic acid from maleic acid.