Abstract

I. A. Ekwealor* and J. A. N. Obeta

The screening of UV irradiated and aminoethyl-l-cysteine resistant (AECR) mutants of Bacillus megaterium strains for improved lysine accumulation was conducted. The mutants, MR-10 and MR -25 derived form irradiated cultures of B. megaterium SP 76, and MS-3 and MS-5 derived form B. megaterium SP 86 produced higher lysine levels than the parent strains. In contrast, however, lysine accumulation by MV-2 and MV-18 mutants of B. megaterium SP 14, was of low yield. In aminoethyl-l-cysteine resistant mutants, R-14 and R-76, derived from B. megaterium SP 14 and B. megaterium SP 76 respectively, lysine accumulation was enhanced.