Elucidation of Genes Relevant to the Microaerobic Growth of Corynebacterium glutamicum

Mutagenized cell libraries of Corynebacterium glutamicum were screened for mutants that lost the ability to grow under low oxygen concentrations. The resulting high-oxygen-requiring mutants were used to clone wildtype DNA fragments that could complement the phenotype. Sequencing and subcloning analyses identified six genes, Cgl0807, Cgl1102, Cgl0600, Cgl1427, Cgl2857, and Cgl2859, as the genes responsible for complementation. Some of these genes showed cross-complementation of the mutants in oxygen-limiting static culture, suggesting the utility of these genes for improved growth and production under oxygen limitation.