Production of Conjugated Linoleic Acid by Lactobacillus Reuteri

Abstract

Cells of L. reuteri 55739 grown in MRS broth with and without linoleic acid (LA, 0.2%) were harvested and washed. The washed cells were added to buffer containing LA (0.2%) and exposed to glycocholic acid (0.3%) to determine its influence on CLA production. Washed cells of L. reuteri 55739 previously grown without LA produced more CLA than did those cells previously grown with LA. Possibly because washed cells previously grown on LA are less active than unexposed washed cells in converting LA into CLA. However, when glycocholic acid was added to washed cells no increase in production of CLA was observed regardless of whether of not the cells had been grown in its presence. Thus, it may be that bile salts simply display no effect on linoleate isomerase. Further studies are needed to elucidate how LA conversion into CLA by L. reuteri could be improved.