Amplification of Glutathione Production in E. coli Cells Using Recombinant DNA Techniques

Conditions for glutathione production in E. coli cells which possess pGH501 (2 gshI+gshII) were studied. In terms of ATP supply for the glutathione synthesis, two different systems have been constructed and compared. When the acetate kinase reaction of E. coli was used for ATP generation, 20 mM of L-cysteine was completely converted to glutathione by toluene-treated E. coli cells (100 mg/ml) harboring pGH501 within 2 h at $37^{\circ}C$. However, considering the economical aspects, the glycolytic pathway of yeast was chosen as a better system for ATP generation. The optimal concentrations of reactants for glutathione production were determined to be as follows; 80 mM L-glutamate, 20 mM L-cysteine, 20 mM glycine, 20 mM $MgCl_2$, 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5), 400 mM glucose, polyoxyethylene stearylamine ($5\;\mul/ml$), toluene-treated E. coli HB101/pGH501 (100 mg/ml), and dried yeast cells (400 mg/ml). The conversion ratio of L-cysteine to glutathione was 80% (about 5 mg/ml) under optimal condition within 6 h at $37^{\circ}C$.