Nucleotide sequence which code for the metH gene

Abstract

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and processes for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the metH gene is present in enhanced form, and use of the polynucleotide sequences as hybridization probes.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . A nucleic acid comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.  
     
     
         36 . The nucleic acid of  claim 35 , which comprises at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.  
     
     
         37 . The nucleic acid of  claim 35 , which comprises at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.  
     
     
         38 . The nucleic acid of  claim 35 , which comprises at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or its full complement, and which binds to a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyl transferase activity.  
     
     
         39 . The nucleic acid of  claim 35  which comprises at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         40 . The nucleic acid of  claim 35  which comprises at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the full complement of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         41 . A method of identifying a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyltransferase II activity, comprising probing a nucleic acid sample with the nucleic acid of  claim 35 .  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said nucleic acid sample comprises RNA, DNA or cDNA.  
     
     
         43 . A method for producing a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide having homocysteine methyltransferase II activity, comprising priming a nucleic acid sample with the nucleic acid of  claim 35 .  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said nucleic acid sample comprises RNA, DNA or cDNA.  
     
     
         45 . A process for preparing an L-methionine-containing animal feedstuffs additive, comprising: 
 a) culturing an L-methionine-producing microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce a fermented medium containing L-methionine,    b) removing water from the fermented medium (concentration);    c) removing 0 to 100 wt. % of the biomass from the fermented medium; and/or    d) drying the fermented medium, optionally to form a powder or granules.    
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein the expression of at least one gene in the biosynthesis pathway for L-methionine in said microorganism is enhanced.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein said gene is selected from the group consisting of: 
 the lysC gene which codes for a feed back resistant aspartate kinase,    the gap gene which codes for glycerolaldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase,    the pgk gene which codes for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase,    the pyc gene which codes for pyruvate carboxylase,    the tpi gene which codes for triose phosphate isomerase    the metA gene which codes for homoserine 0-acetyltransferase    the metB gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-synthase    aecD gene which codes for cystathionine gamma-lyase    glyA gene which codes for serine hydroxymethyltransferase and    metY gene which codes for 0-acetylhomoserine-sulfhydrylase.    
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein the expression of at least one gene which decreases L-methionine levels in said microorganism is reduced or eliminated.  
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 48 , wherein said gene is selected from the group consisting of: 
 the thrB gene which codes for homoserine kinase    the ilvA gene which codes for threonine dehydratase    the thrC gene which codes for threonine synthase    the ddh gene which codes for meso-diaminopimelate D-dehydrogenase    the pck gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase    the pgi gene which codes for glucose 6-phosphate isomerase and    the poxB gene which codes for pyruvate oxidase.    
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein expression of the polynucleotide encoding the metF gene product is enhanced.  
     
     
         51 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein microorganisms of the species  Corynebacterium glutamicum  are employed.  
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 51 , wherein the  Corynebacterium glutamicum  strain ATCC13032/pCREmetF is employed.  
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one of the following steps: 
 e) adding at least one organic substance to the product obtained by steps b), c) and/or d);    f) adding at least one auxiliary substance selected from the group consisting of silicas, silicates, stearates, grits and bran to the product obtained by steps to b), c), d) and/or e); and/or    g) coating the product obtained by steps b), c), d), e) and/or f) with a film-forming agent.    
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 53 , wherein the film-forming agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of metal carbonates, silicas, silicates, alginates, stearates, starches, gums and cellulose ethers.  
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein a portion of the biomass is removed.  
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein essentially 100% of the biomass is removed.  
     
     
         57 . The process as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the water content in said feedstuff additive is up to 5 wt. %.  
     
     
         58 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein the water content in said feedstuff additive is less than 2 wt. %.  
     
     
         59 . An animal feedstuffs additive prepared by the process of  claim 45 .  
     
     
         60 . The animal feedstuffs additive of  claim 59 , which comprises 1 wt. % to 80 wt. % L-methionine, D-methionine, D,L-methionine or a mixture thereof, based on its dry weight.