Conversion of G. hansenii PJK into Non-cellulose-producing Mutants According to the Culture Condition

The conversion of a cellulose-producing cell ($Cel^+$) from Gluconacetobacter hansenii PJK (KCTC 10505 BP) to a non-cellulose-producing cell ($Cel^-$) was investigated by measuring the colony forming unit (CFU). This was achieved in a shaking flask with three slanted baffles, which exerted a strong shear stress. The addition of organic acid, such as glutamic acid and acetic acid, induced the conversion of microbial cells from a wild type to $Cel^-$ mutants in a flask culture. The supplementation of $1\%$ ethanol to the medium containing an organic acid depressed the con-version of the microbial cells to $Cel^-$ mutants in a conventional flask without slanted baffles. The addition of ethanol to the medium containing an organic acid; however, accelerated the conversion of microbial cells in the flask with slanted baffles. The $Cel^+$ cells from the agitated culture were not easily converted into $Cel^-$ mutants on the additions of organic acid and ethanol to a flask without Slanted baffles, but some portion of the $Cel^+$ cells were converted to $Cel^-$ mutants in a flask with slanted baffles. The conversion ratio of $Cel^+$ cells to $Cel^-$ mutants was strongly re-lated to the production of bacterial cellulose independently from the cell growth.