A CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION METHOD FOR THEANINE BY IMMOBILIZED PSEUDOMONAS-NITROREDUCENS CELLS

Theanine synthesis from glutamine and ethylamine by immobilized cells of Pseudomonas nitroreducens as a biocatalyst was investigated. A reac tor was constructed by connecting four columns, each of which was pack ed with immobilized bacterial cells. The glutaminase activity of the i mmobilized cells in a mixture of glutamine and ethylamine, pH 9.5, was somewhat unstable in the early stage of the biosynthesis. However, th e enzyme became stable as theanine was produced and the reactor mainta ined the synthetic activity for at least several weeks. Several factor s affecting the efficiency of theanine synthesis, but especially the t emperature, pH and flow rate of the substrate, were examined.