Production of Natural Methyl Anthranilate by Microbial N-Demethylation of N-Methyl Methyl Anthranilate by the Topsoil-Isolated Bacterium Bacillus megaterium

Bacillus megaterium, isolated in a screening process from topsoil, was used for N-demethylation of natural N-methyl methyl anthranilate to produce natural methyl anthranilate. Maximal productivity of 70 mg/L/day was achieved under laboratory-scale conditions without further optimization. No byproducts were observed. Thus, production of “natural” methyl anthranilate using B. megaterium is a significant improvement over comparable already existing procedures. Keywords: Bacillus megaterium; bioflavor; biotransformation; methyl anthranilate; N-demethylation; N-methyl methyl anthranilate