A New Thermophile Strain of Geobacillus thermodenitrificans Having L- Arabinose Isomerase Activity for Tagatose Production

Five strains, producing bacterial thermostable L-arabinose isomerase, were isolated from Korean soil samples obtained from compost under high temperature circumstances. Among these strains, the CBG-Al showed the highest L-arabinose isomerase activity at $60^\circ{C}$ and was selected as a D-tagatose producing strain from D-galactose. This strain was identified as Geobacillus thermodenitrificans based on the 16S rRNA analysis, and biological and biochemical characteristics. The isolated strain was aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-positive, nonmotile, and an endospore-forming bacterium. No growth was detected in culture temperature below $40^\circ{C}$. The maximum growth temperature and maximum temperature of enzyme activity were $75^\circ{C}$ and $65^\circ{C}$, respectively. In metal ion effects, $Ca^{2+}$ was the most effective enzyme activator with the reaction rate by 150%. In a 5-1 jar fermentor with 3-1 MY medium, L-arabinose isomerase activity was growth-associated and pH decreased rapidly after the initial logarithmic phase.