Ethyl carbamate-mediated mutagenesis for enhanced lactic acid production by lactic acid bacteria

Ethyl carbamate (urethane) is a wellknown chemical mutagen with established genotoxic and carcinogenic properties, yet its potential application in microbial strain improvement has not been extensively investigated. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of ethyl carbamate-mediated mutagenesis in enhancing lactic acid production by selected strains of lactic acid bacteria (LABS). Cultures were exposed to varying concentrations and durations of ethyl carbamate to induce random mutagenesis, and resultant mutants were screened for growth kinetics, carbohydrate utilization, and lactic acid yield. These findings highlight the dual nature of ethyl carbamate as both a potent mutagen and a promising tool for strain improvement, offering scope for developing superior LAB strains for industrial lactic acid fermentation. In the present communication ECmediated mutagenesis for enhanced lactic acid production by lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei NCIM-1692 has been explored. It has been observed that ethyl carbamate acts as strong mutagens and stimulatory for lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei NCIM-1692 and enhances the yield of lactic acid to an extent of 13.507% higher in comparison to control when 25% molasses solution is allowed to ferment at pH level of 5.9,temperature 380C and incubation period of 7 days along with some other significant rich ingredients of higher levels.