Abstract
Leuconostoc mesenteroides is a commercially important lactic acid bacterium currently used as a starter for kimchi and kefir. However, its sensitivity to acid stress limits its performance. L. mesenteroides was grown in a medium supplemented with 3.2 or 6.4 mM glutathione (GSH), and cell survival rates were measured during a long-term mild acid challenge (pH 4.0). As a result, GSH was imported by the cells and protected against acid stress; thereafter it was consumed as a nutrient. Acid stress resistance of starter cultures of this bacterium can thus be improved by cultivating it in media supplemented with GSH.
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Acknowledgment
This study was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant (2009-0085901) funded by the Korea Government (MEST).
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Kim, J.E., Eom, HJ., Kim, Y. et al. Enhancing acid tolerance of Leuconostoc mesenteroides with glutathione. Biotechnol Lett 34, 683–687 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-011-0815-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-011-0815-1