Zymographic assay to differentiate Lactobacillus reuteri among other Lactobacillus

A simple method is reported that allows the phenotypic differentiation of Lactobacillus reuteri strains among other Lactobacillus. The detection of the enzyme 1,3-propanediol:NAD oxidoreductase in non-denaturing PAGE, a constitutive enzyme of Lb. reuteri involved in the production of 1,3-propanediol, is used. Other member of the genus were reported as 1,3 propanediol producers (Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus buchnen), both of their enzymes showed differential properties to that of Lb. reuteri. Under the conditions used in the study, the strain Lb. reuteri CRL1100 was found to produce 15 % more 1,3-PDL (11.5 +/- 0.41 gl(-1)) in comparison with the reference strain Lb. reuteri DSM 20016 (10.0 +/- 0.37 gl(-1)).