Production and Characterization of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid by Bacillus velezensis SDU

In this study, a <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> SDU strain capable of producing poly-γ-glutamate (γ-PGA) was newly identified from the rhizosphere soil of Baimiao taro. The strain is a glutamate-independent strain and can produce polyglutamic acid in a culture medium completely free of glutamate. The hydrolyzed product of the polyglutamic acid produced is D-glutamic acid. The molecular weight of γ-PGA, estimated via the Mark-Houwink equation, was 1390 kDa. Furthermore, the molecular weight measured by Waters gel permeation chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS) was 1167 kDa. The production of γ-PGA and its antioxidant and tyrosine inhibition properties were investigated. The γ-PGA production reached 23.1 g/L, and the productivity was 0.77 g L^-1 h^-1. Specifically, γ-PGA exhibited superoxide anion (·O₂^-) radical scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. This study introduces a promising strain and a highly efficient application method for γ-PGA, which can be broadly utilized in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.