Abstract
Background/Objectives: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a bioactive, non-proteinaceous amino acid with potential health benefits. Weissella cibaria UF-274 is an important lactic acid bacterium isolated from Balinese fermented sausage (urutan) with GABA-producing abilities. The aim of this study was to enhance GABA synthesis in skim milk as a basal substrate, as well as whole genome sequencing and analysis to evaluate the functionality and safety of the strain. Methods: A Box-Behnken response surface design was used to enhance GABA accumulation in skim milk. Results: The optimum conditions for GABA production were at concentrations of glucose of 23.91 g/L, monosodium glutamate concentrations of 2.32 g/L and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate at 46 μM. The genome assembly produced a high-quality draft with a 2.53 Mb circular chromosome and 2378 coding sequences. A whole genome analysis revealed that the strain possesses a glutamine amidotransferase (puuD-like) as an alternative route linked to the GABA pathway. AntiSMASH prediction results showed that the strain has two biosynthetic gene clusters including terpene and type III polyketide synthases. Several bioinformatic approaches predicted no antibiotic resistance genes, while van genes encoding vancomycin resistance were detected with low pathogen risk with one approach. Conclusions: Weissella cibaria UF-274 is a promising GABA producer with genomic evidence and a good candidate for functional food development.