An actinomycete producing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine from L-tyrosine.

An actinomycete was isolated during a soil screening programme to obtain L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine producers. A mutant of this organism was isolated by chemical mutagenesis and it accumulated 1 g/litre L-dihydroxyphenylalanine when grown on L-tyrosine. Resting cells converted 30% of tyrosine in the reaction mixture. The use of resting cells for dihydroxyphenylalanine production is advantageous as it eliminates interfering substances which accumulate during fermentation.