Bacillus thuringiensis: a specific gamma-cyclodextrin producer strain.

An anaerobic microbial isolate Bacillus species, designated B. thuringiensis GU-2, was isolated from soil as a specific γ-cyclodextrin (CD) producer strain in alkaline medium under anaerobic conditions. The optimum pH and temperature for bacterial growth and γ-CD production were estimated to be pH 8.5 and 37°C in the presence of 1.0% starch substrate, respectively. A high purity yield >95% of γ-CD from the total CD yield in the reaction mixture was obtained from starch that was supposed to be converted by gamma-cyclodextrin glycotransferase, tentatively named as γ-CGTase. The maximum γ-CGTase activity was estimated at 2.45U/mL under optimized condition. This is the first report demonstrating the generation of a specific γ-cyclodextrin (CD) producer strain by the action of a γ-CGTase under anaerobic conditions.