Elucidating the Role and Regulation of a Lactate Permease as Lactate Transporter in Bacillus coagulans DSM1

Abstract

Lactate-utilizing strains require lactate permease (LutP) to transport lactate into cells. Bacillus coagulans LutP is a previously uncharacterized lactate permease with no lactate utilization genes situated either adjacent to or remotely from it. In this study, an active lactate permease in an l -lactate producer, B. coagulans DSM1, was identified. Lactate supplementation regulated the expression of lactate permease. This study presents physiological evidence of the presence of a lactate transporter in B. coagulans . Our findings indicate a potential target for the engineering of strains in order to improve their fermentation characteristics.