Method for Producing L-Aspartic Acid

The present invention relates to a novel microorganism of the genus Serratia having high aspartase activity and a method for producing L-aspartic acid using the microorganism.

It has hitherto been known that Serratia marcescens has aspartase activity, and a method of enzymatic production of L-aspartic acid from ammonium fumarate (or fumaric acid and an ammonium salt) by using such a microorganism has been also known in the prior art (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 12553/1979 and 18867/1982). However, aspartase activity of Serratia marcescens used in such a conventional method is not so high as it is sufficient for the industrial production of L-aspartic acid.

Under the circumstances, in order to establish an industrially advantageous method for producing L-aspartic acid, the present inventors have intensively studied. As the result, the present inventors have succeeded in the isolation of a microbial strain having very high aspartase activity in comparison with that of its parent strain by a so-called molecular cloning, i.e., by isolating a chromosome fragment of a microorganism of the genus Serratia which specifies aspartase activity, joining it to a plasmid and then introducing the plasmid into a microorganism of the genus Serratia, and found that L-aspartic acid can be very efficiently produced by utilizing the microorganism thus isolated.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel microorganism useful for the industrial production of L-aspartic acid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an industrially advantageous method for producing L-aspartic acid.

These objects as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to the present invention, there is provided a novel microorganism of the genus Serratia containing a hybrid plasmid prepared by joining of a plasmid with a deoxyribonucleic acid carrying the gene for aspartase which is obtained from a microorganism of the genus Serratia. A method for producing L-aspartic acid comprising contacting a culture of the novel microorganism, the microbial cells collected from the culture or a processed material of the microbial cells with fumaric acid and ammonia to produce L-aspartic acid and then collecting L-aspartic acid thus produced is also provided.

In the present invention, the microorganism to be used as the source of deoxyribonucleic acid carrying the gene for aspartase (hereinafter referred to as chromosome DNA) is not limited to a specific one so far as it is a microorganism of the genus Serratia having aspartase activity. Suitable examples of such a microorganism are Serratia marcescens Sr41 (FERM BP-487) and Serratia marcescens OUT8259.

The plasmid to be joined with the chromosome DNA obtained from such a microorganism as the above is not limited to a specific one so far as it is capable of replicating in a microorganism of the genus Serratia. For example, pACYC177 [J. Bacteriol., 134, 1141 (1978)], pACYC 184 [J. Bacteriol., ibid.], p15A [J. Bacteriol., ibid.], pBR322 [Gene, 2, 95 (1975)], pBR313 [Gene, 2, 75 (1977)], pBR325 [Gene, 4, 121 (1978)] or pMB1 [Fed. Proc., 35, 2037 (1976)] can be used. It is preferable that, prior to use, the plasmid is treated by introducing it into a microorganism of the genus Serratia and then extracting it according to a conventional technique because a more desirable result can be obtained.

As a host into which the hybrid plasmid obtained by joining the chromosome DNA to the plasmid is introducing, it may be any microorganism of the genus Serratia being capable of transformation. For example, the above microorganism as that used for the source of the chromosome DNA can be suitably used.

In the preparation of the novel microorganism of the present invention, firstly, the chromosome DNA is extracted from the source microorganism of the genus Serratia having aspartase activity. The extraction of the chromosome DNA can be readily carried out by a standard method. For example, after subjecting microbial cells of the microorganism to lysozyme treatment and SDS treatment, the resulting lysate is deproteinized and then the chromosome DNA is precipitated with ethanol [J. Mol. Biol., 3, 208, (1961); Biochem. Biophys. Acta., 72, 619 (1963)].

Joining of the plasmid with the chromosome DNA thus obtained can be carried out by a standard method. For example, after the chromosome DNA and the plasmid DNA are cut with a restriction endonuclease (e.g., HindIII, SalI, EcoRI, etc.), they are treated with a ligase (e.g., T.sub.4 DNA ligase, E. coli DNA ligase, etc.) or, depending upon the nature of the termini formed by cut, they are treated with a terminal transferase, DNA polymerase, etc. and then treated with a ligase to join the DNA strands [see Method in Enzymology, 68, 41; "Idenshi Sosa Jikken-ho" Y. Takagi ed., Kodan-sha Scientific, Japan].

The transformation with the hybrid plasmid thus obtained can be carried out, for example, by treating cells of the host microorganism with a solution containing calcium chloride at a low temperature to increase permeability of the cell membrane to intorduce the hybrid DNA into the host microorganism [J. Mol. Biol., 53, 159 (1970)].

The desired transformants into which the hybrid plasmid carrying the gene for aspartase is introduced can be selected for the better growth on a medium containing L-aspartic acid as a sole carbon or nitrogen source. Further, when the transformation is carried out it is possible that the desired hybrid plasmid is previously selected by introducing hybrid plasmids into microorganism mutants having various mutations and extracting them from the mutants and then the selected desired plasmid is introduced into the host microorganism. Examples of such mutants include those having some or all mutations such as aspartase defect, ampicillin sensitivity, kanamycin sensitivity and the like.

Thus, the desired novel microorganism of the genus Serratia of the present invention containing a hybrid plasmid prepared by joining of a plasmid with a deoxyribonucleic acid carrying the gene for aspartase which is obtained from a microorganism of the genus Serratia can be obtained.

The representatives of the microorganism of the present invention thus obtained are deposited with Fermentation Research Institute (FRI), Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaragi-ken, Japan under Budapest Treaty on Mar. 26, 1983. They are Serratia marcescens TA5001 (FERM BP-488) and Serratia marcescens TA5002 (FERM BP-489). Aspartase activities of these microorganisms are about 8 to 21 times as high as that of the parent strain.

Since, as described in the above, aspartase activity of the microorganism of the present invention is extremely superior to that of the parent strain, L-aspartic acid can be advantageously produced from fumaric acid and ammonia by using the microorganism.

That is, L-aspartic acid can be produced by contacting a culture of the microorganism of the present invention, microbial cells collected from the culture or a processed material of the microbial cells with the substrates, i.e., fumaric acid and ammonia to effect L-aspartic acid-producing enzymatic reaction.

The microorganism of the present invention can be incubated by using a conventional nutrient medium containing carbon sources (e.g., glucose, sucrose, glycerol, fumaric acid), nitrogen sources (e.g., ammonium fumarate, ammonium sulfate), organic nutrients (e.g., yeast extract, peptone, corn steep liquor, meat extract), inorganic salts (e.g., potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate), and the like. The incubation can be carried out according to a conventional method. For example, after adjusting pH of a medium to 5.0 to 9.0, the microorganism is inoculated into the medium and incubated at 10.degree. to 45.degree. C., preferably, at 28.degree. to 37.degree. C. for 12 to 92 hours under aerobic conditions. In the medium, L-aspartic acid can be also used as a carbon source as well as a nitrogen source and the preferred amount thereof is about 0.1 to 5%.

As described in the above, when L-aspartic acid-producing reaction is carried out, not only the culture of the microorganism but also microbial cells collected from the culture and a processed material of the microbial cells can be used.

The collection of the microbial cells from the culture can be carried out according to a conventional method such as filtration, centrifugation and the like.

Examples of the processed material of the microbial cells are washed microbial cells prepared by washing the cells with physiological saline solution, phosphate buffer solution, carbonate buffer solution and the like; dried microbial cells prepared by drying the microbial cells according to a conventional method such as lyophilization, acetone treatment and the like; ground microbial cells prepared by grinding the microbial cells with glass beads, alumina and the like; autolysates of the microbial cells prepared by toluene, chloroform and the like; sonicates of the microbial cells prepared by a sonic oscillator; microbial cell extracts prepared by french press; and immobilized preparations obtained by immobilizing the microbial cells or the above other processed materials thereof according to a known method such as gel conjugation method, adsorption method or the like. Examples of the immobilized preparations are those obtained by immobilizing the microbial cells or the above other processed materials thereof on supports, carriers or bases such as polyacrylamide gel, sulfur-containing polysaccharide (e.g., carrageenan, furcellaran, etc.) gel, collagen gel, alginic acid gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel, agar gel and the like. When polyacrylamide gel is used, the immobilization can be carried out according to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1831/1978. When sulfur-containing polysaccharide gel is used, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 6483/1978 can be employed. Further, when collagen gel, alginic acid gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel, agar gel or the like is used, the immobilization can be carried out according to the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication Nos. 144780/1976, 30582/1974, 80285/1974 and 133484/1976.

Fumaric acid and ammonia to be used as the substrates can be introduced into a L-aspartic acid-producing enzymatic reaction system in various forms. For example, they can be introduced into the reaction system in the form of ammonium fumarate, or as fumaric acid or its salt and an inorganic ammonium salt.

As the salt of fumaric acid, for example, sodium fumarate or potassium fumarate can be suitably used. As the inorganic ammonium salt, for example, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate or a mixture thereof can be suitably used.

In case of using fumaric acid or its salt and the inorganic ammonium salt, it is preferable that the molar ratio of these two components are within the range between 1:1.5 to 1:2.

The enzymatic reaction can be carried out at such a wide temperature range as about 5.degree. to 50.degree. C. but, in view of stability of the enzyme of the microorganism, it is preferable that the enzymatic reaction is carried out at 20.degree. to 45.degree. C. Further, it is preferable to carry out the enzymatic reaction at a pH range of 6 to 10. Besides, when the enzymatic reaction is carried out, it is preferable to add a divalent metal ion such as calcium ion, magnesium ion, manganese ion, strontium ion or the like to the reaction system. The amount of the divalent metal ion can be about 0.1 to 10 mM and thereby stability of the enzyme can be improved.

When the microbial cells are used, preferably, the reaction is carried out in batchwise and L-aspartic acid is produced by suspending the microbial cells collected from the culture thereof in a solution of the above substrates and stirring the suspension. When the immobilized preparation is used, the reaction can be carried out not only by a batch process but also by a continuous process using a column packed with the immobilized preparation since the immobilized preparation is insoluble in water. For example, the immobilized preparation is packed in a column and a substrate solution is passed down through the column at a suitable flow rate to obtain an effluent containing only L-aspartic acid. When the reaction is carried out by a batch process, L-aspartic acid is produced by suspending the immobilized preparation in a substrate solution and stirring the suspension. In the latter case, the immobilized preparation can be reused by separating it from the reaction mixture according to a standard method such as filtration or centrifugation. The progress of the above reaction is effected by the amount of microbial cells, temperature, reaction time, flow rate of the substrate (particularly, linear velocity) and the like. Optical reaction conditions which can attain 100% progress of the reaction can be readily found, for example, by suitably adjusting the flow rate of a substrate solution passing down through a column according to the amount of an immobilized preparation, in case of a continuous process using a column; or by suitably adjusting a reaction time, in case of a batch process.

L-Aspartic acid thus produced and accumulated in the reaction mixture can be readily separated and purified according to known methods, for example, by combining a conventional method using an ion exchange resin with other known methods.

As described hereinbefore, according to the present invention, the microorganism of the genus Serratia having extremely high aspartase activity in comparison with that of a known microorganism of the genus Serratia used in a conventional method for producing L-aspartic acid can be obtained and, by using the microorganism of the present invention, L-aspartic acid can be advantageously produced in an industrial scale.

The following examples further illustrate the present invention in detail but are not to be construed to limit the scope thereof.

In the examples, aspartase activity was determined by contacting 1M ammonium fumarate solution containing 1mM magnesium chloride (pH 8.7) with the microbial cells or the processed material thereof, incubating at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour to effect the enzymatic reaction, and measuring L-aspartic acid in the resulting reaction mixture by a bioassay using Leuconostoc mesenteroides P60 [J. Biol. Chem., 172, 15 (1948)].

Serratia marcescens Sr41 was inoculated into L-broth (1 liter, peptone 1%, yeast extract 0.5%, sodium chloride 0.5%, pH 7.2) and incubated with shaking at 30.degree. C. for 4 hours. After incubation, microbial cells in the logarithmic growth phase were collected by centrifugation. The microbial cells were lysed by lysozyme treatment and SDS treatment, deproteinized by phenol treatment and then treated with ethanol to precipitate the chromosome DNA. According to a conventional method, the precipitated chromosome DNA was purified to obtain the desired chromosome DNA (2.8 mg).

Serratia marcescens Sr41 was inoculated into L-broth (50 ml) and incubated with shaking at 30.degree. C. until the logarithmic growth phase was attained. The microbial cells were collected and suspended in an ice-cold 0.1M magnesium chloride solution (50 ml). After collection of the cells, they were resuspended in an ice-cold 0.1M calcium chloride/0.5M sucrose solution (25 ml). After allowing to stand at 0.degree. C. for 30 minutes, the cells were collected and suspended in an ice-cold 0.1M calcium chloride/0.5M sucrose solution (5 ml). To this suspension (0.2 ml) was added plasmid pACYC177 DNA (1 .mu.g) obtained from Escherichia coli K-12 and the mixture was allowed to stand at 0.degree. C. for 1 hour. After maintaining at 42.degree. C. for 2 minutes, L-broth (2 ml) was added and the mixture was incubated at 30.degree. C. for 90 minutes. The culture (0.4 ml) was spread on L-broth agar plates containing ampicillin (500 .mu.g/ml) and incubated at 30.degree. C. for 1 day. The resulting colonies were picked up and isolated to obtain Serratia marcescens Sr41 containing pACYC177.

Serratia marcescens Sr41 containing pACYC177 thus obtained was inoculated into L-broth (1 liter) and incubated with shaking at 30.degree. C. for 18 hours. The microbial cells were collected by centrifugation. The cells were lysed by lysozyme treatment and SDS treatment. After addition of sodium chloride an amount that the final concentration thereof was 1M, the mixture was centrifuged at 100,000.times.g for 30 minutes. The supernatant was collected and treated with phenol. Ethanol was added and the mixture was centrifuged to precipitate DNA. The precipitated DNA was dissolved in 10 mM Tris/1 mM EDTA (pH 7.5) and the solution was subjected to cesium chloride - ethidium bromide equilibrium density gradient centrifugation to separate and purify the plasmid DNA. Thus, pACYC177 plasmid DNA (0.5 mg) was obtained.

The restriction endonuclease HindIII was treated with the chromosome DNA (10 .mu.g) obtained in the above (1) and the plasmid DNA (5 .mu.g) obtained in the above (2) under normal conditions to completely cut the DNA strands. After heat treatment at 65.degree. C. for 10 minutes, both reaction mixtures were combined and the T.sub.4 DNA ligase was treated under normal conditions to join the DNA strands.

(a) Serratia marcescens Sr41 cells were mutagenized, and an exonuclease-and restriction endonuclease-less mutant was isolated according to the methods described in Molec. Gen. Genet., 124, 197 (1973); Molec. Gen. Genet., 152, 65 (1977) and Molec. Gen. Genet., 131, 181 (1974). The mutant was further subjected to mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and spread on L-broth agar plates containing ampicillin (5 .mu.g/ml) in such an amount that about 100 colonies per plate appeared. After incubation at 30.degree. C. for 1 day, among the resulting colonies, a small colony was picked up and isolated to obtain a mutant having exonuclease defect, restriction endonuclease defect and enhanced sensitivity to ampicillin. The mutant was inoculated into L-broth (50 ml) and incubated with shaking at 30.degree. C. until the logarithmic growth phase was attained. The microbial cells thus incubated were collected and suspended in an ice-cold 0.1 M magnesium chloride solution (50 ml). After collection of the cells, they were resuspended in an ice-cold 0.1 M calcium chloride/ 0.5 M sucrose solution (25 ml). After allowing to stand at 0.degree. C. for 30 minutes and collection of the cells, they were further suspended in an ice-cold 0.1 M calcium chloride/0.5 M sucrose solution (5 ml). To the cell suspension was added the DNA solution obtained in the above (3). The mixture was ice-cooled for 30 minutes and subjected to heat treatment at 42.degree. C. for 2 minutes to introduce DNA into the cells. Then, to this suspension was added L-broth (50 ml) and the mixture was incubated with shaking at 30.degree. C. for 2 hours. A small amount of the resulting culture was spread on L-broth agar plates (containing ampicillin 50 .mu.g/ml and agar 1.5%) and incubated at 30.degree. C. for 24 hours. Among the resulting colonies, one having ampicillin resistance and kanamycin sensitivity was isolated as the transformant with the hybrid plasmid. After incubation of the transformant thus obtained in L-broth (1 liter), the hybrid plasmid DNA was collected according to the same manner as in the above (2).

(c) The hybrid plasmid DNA thus obtained and Serratia marcescens Sr41 were treated according to the same manner as in the above (a) to isolate the transformant and the cells in the transform culture was incubated on L-broth agar medium plates containing ampicillin 500 .mu.g/ml to obtain the desired transformant, Serratia marcescens TA5001 (FERM BP-488). This strain contains the hybrid plasmid (pTA501) having the gene for aspartase and has high aspartase activity.

Aspartase activities of Serratia marcescens TA 5001 thus obtained and the parent strain, Serratia marcescens Sr41 were measured. The results are shown in Table 1.

Medium: ammonium fumarate 3%, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 0.2%, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 0.05%, corn steep liquor 2%, yeast extract 2% (pH 7.0).

As is seen from Table 1, in comparison with the parent strain, Serratia marcescens Sr41, the aspartase activity of the microorganism of the present invention, Serratia marcescens TA5001 is increased about 8 times.

According to the same manner as in Example 1 (2), the plasmid pBR322 DNA (0.8 mg) was obtained by substituting the plasmid pBR322 for pACYC177. On the other hand, Serratia marcescens TA5001 prepared in Example 1 was treated according to the same manner as in Example 1 (2) to obtain the plasmid pTA501 DNA (0.6 mg).

The restriction endonucleases, EcoRI and SalI were simultaneously treated with the above-obtained plasmid pBR322 DNA (5 g) and pTA501 DNA (5 .mu.g), under normal conditions to cut both DNA strands. After heat treatment at 65.degree. C. for 10 minutes, both reaction mixtures were combined and treated with T.sub.4 DNA ligase under normal conditions to join the DNA strands.

According to the same manner as in Example 1 (4), Serratia marcescens Sr41 was transformed with the DNA solution of the above (2) and a microbial strain which was capable of growing on L-broth agar plates containing ampicillin (500 .mu.g/ml) was isolated to select a microorganism having high aspartase activity. Thus, there was obtain the desired transformant, Serratia marcescens TA 5002 (FERM BP-489). This strain contains the hybrid plasmid (pTA502) having the gene for aspartase and has high aspartase activity.

Aspartase activities of Serratia marcescens TA 5002 and the parent strain, Serratia marcescens Sr41 were measured. The results are shown in Table 2.

The medium was the same as that used in Table 1.

As is seen from Table 2, in comparison with the parent strain, Serratia marcescens Sr41, the aspartase activity of Serratia marcescens TA5002 is increased about 21 times.

Further, the hybrid plasmid pTA502 of Serratia marcescens TA5002 was extracted and the DNA strand was simultaneously cut with the restriction endonucleases EcoRI and SalI. The resulting DNA fragments were analyzed by standard agarose gel electrophoresis. As the result, it has been found that pTA502 is composed of the larger DNA fragment formed by cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA with EcoRI and SalI and the DNA fragment derived from pTA501.

(1) Serratia marcescens TA 5001 was inoculated into a medium (500 ml, pH 7.0) containing ammonium fumarate (3%), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (0.2%), magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (0.05%), corn steep liquor (4%) and yeast extract (2%) and incubated with shaking at 37.degree. C. for 18 hours. The resulting culture was centrifuged to collect microbial cells and the cells were suspended in physiological saline. To the suspension (12 ml, wet cells 6 g) was added 3.2% aqueous solution of GENU GEL WG (carrageenan manufactured by Kopenhagen Pectin Factory Ltd.) (48 ml) previously warmed to 37.degree. C. and thoroughly mixed. The resulting mixture was added dropwise to 1M aqueous ammonium fumarate solution containing 1mM magnesium chloride (pH 8.5) to give immobilized Serratia marcescens (59.6 g, wet weight) having aspartase activity in globular gel (about 3 mm diameter). The aspartase activity per 1 g of the resulting immobilized cells was 1,058.3 .mu.mole/hr.

(2) The immobilized Serratia marcescens prepared in the above (1) (60 g) was packed in a jacketed column (4 cm.times.8 cm) and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 48 hours to activate the immobilized cells (aspartase activity: 1,582,000 .mu.mole/hr). After activation, 1M ammonium fumarate solution containing 1mM magnesium chloride (pH 8.5, 1,000 ml) was passed through the column at 37.degree. C. at the flow rate of 150 ml/hr. The effluent was adjusted to pH 2.8 to give L-aspartic acid (127 g).

(1) The microbial cells of Serratia marcescens TA 5002 (8 g) obtained by the same manner as in Example 3 were suspended in physiological saline (5 ml). To the suspension was added 2.2% aqueous solution of GENU GEL WG containing 1% locust bean gum (80 ml) previously warmed to 40.degree. C. and mixed. The resulting mixture was gelled by cooling. Further, 2% aqueous potassium chloride solution (250 ml) was slowly added and the mixture was allowed to stand for 30 minutes. The gel was shaped into cubes of 3 mm in side length and washed with 2% aqueous potassium chloride solution. The gel (90.1 g) thus obtained was dipped in cold ethanol (100 ml) and added thereto glutaraldehyde in such an amount that the final concentration thereof was 0.49%. The mixture was allowed to stand with ice-cooling for 15 minutes to harden the gel. Then, the gel was filtered off and washed with 2% aqueous potassium chloride solution. After washing, the gel was activated by incubation with a substrate solution for 48 hours to obtain an immobilized Serratia marcescens having aspartase activity (85.0 g, wet weight). The aspartase activity per 1 g of the resulting immobilized cells was 34,980 .mu.mole/hr.

(2) The immobilized Serratia marcescens obtained in the above (1) (11 g) was packed in a jacketed column (1.6 cm.times.12 cm) and 1M aqueous ammonium fumarate solution containing 1mM magnesium chloride (pH 8.5) was continuously passed through the column at 37.degree. C. at the flow rate of 6 ml/hr. Stability of aspartase activity in the immobilized cells was evaluated by measuring the aspartase activity of samples of the effluent with time. As the result, even after 14 days, decrease of the activity was not observed.

The microbial cells of Serratia marcescens TA5002 obtained by the same manner as in Example 3 (10 g) was suspended in 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH 8.5, 50 ml) and sonicated at 9 Kc for 10 minutes. Then, the suspension was centrifuged and the resulting supernatant (35 ml) was passed through a column packed with Duolite-A7 (a weak basic anion exchange resin manufactured by Diamond Shamrock Chemical Co. in U.S.A.) (60 ml) at room temperature at SV=0.75. Then, the column was subjected to cross-linking treatment with a solution containing 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 8.5, 300 ml) and 0.4% glutaraldehyde (300 ml) for 30 minutes and excess glutaraldehyde was thoroughly washed out to give an immobilized enzyme. The immobilized enzyme was packed in a column (volume 50 ml) and 1M ammonium fumarate solution containing 1mM magnesium chloride (pH 8.5, 500 ml) was passed through the column at the flow rate of 25 ml/hr. The combined effluent was adjusted to pH 2.8 to precipitate crystals. The crystals were filtered off to give L-aspartic acid (58 g).

According to the same manner as in Example 5, a supernatant was obtained by using Serratia marcescens TA 5001. The supernatant was subjected to ammonium sulfate fractionation (saturation degree: 30 to 50%) and the resulting precipitate was dissolved in water (5 ml). The solution was dialyzed overnight against water and the resulting dialysate was taken as an enzyme solution (standard aspartase). The enzyme solution (2 ml) and 3.2% aqueous GENU GEL WG solution (12 ml) were mixed in a water bath at 37.degree. C. The mixture was added dropwise to 2% aqueous potassium chloride solution to give globular gel (about 3 mm diameter). The aspartase activity of the resulting immobilized aspartase was 21,320 .mu.mole/hr/g.

Serratia marcescens TA5002 was inoculated in a medium (500 ml, pH 7.0) containing ammonium fumarate (3%), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (0.2%), magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (0.05%), corn steep liquor (4%) and yeast extract (2%) and cultivated at 30.degree. C. for 18 hours. The resulting culture was adjusted to pH 8.5 with aqueous ammonia and added thereto ammonium fumarate (65 g) and Triton X-100 (500 mg). The mixture was allowed to react at 37.degree. C. for 5 hours. Then, the reaction mixture was filtered, concentrated and adjusted to pH 2.8 to precipitate crude crystals of L-aspartic acid. The crude crystals were filtered off and recrystallized from water to give L-aspartic acid (46.5 g).