Production of l-Serine by a Methanol-utilizing Bacterium, Arthrobacter globiformis SK-200

A methanol-utilizing bacterium, strain SK-200, which was isolated as an l-serine producer, was identified as Arthrobacter globiformis. The strain excreted a considerable amount of l-serine when glycine and glucose were added in a methanol medium. Cultural conditions for l-serine production were studied. Derivation of mutants increased the productivity of l-serine. A methionine auxotroph produced 5.2 mg per ml of l-serine.