Effect of gluconic acid on the production of cellulose in Acetobacter xylinum BRC5

Four mutants of Acetobacter xylinum BRC5 defective in gluconic acid production were isolated from UV-irradiated cells. The gluconic acid-negative mutants did not show glucose oxidase activity. The mutants were also defective in cellulose production. A randomly selected mutant grown in the Hestrin-Schramm medium (pH 6.0) supplemented with gluconic acid, however, was found to synthesize cellulose. The mutant grown in Hestrin-Schramm medium whose pH was adjusted to 5.0 with HCl and contained no gluconic acid also produced cellulose. Wild-type cells grown under the same condition synthesized cellulose more rapidly than those grown in the pH 6.0 medium.