Azotobacter vinelandii lacking the Na(+)-NQR activity: a potential source for producing alginates with improved properties and at high yield.

The mutant ATCN4 strain of Azotobacter vinelandii, which lacks the Na(+)-NQR activity and results in an alginate overproduction (highly mucoid phenotype), was cultured in shake flasks in minimal and rich medium, and the chemical composition and rheological properties of the alginate were determined. Mutant ATCN4 exhibited a high efficiency for sucrose conversion to alginate and PHB accumulation, reaching yields that were 3.6- and 1.