155OVER EXPRESSION OF ASPARTOKINASE GENE IN CORYNEBACTERIUM GLUTAMICUM FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION LEVELS OF L-LYSINEThe Identification of novel target genes to improve the lysine production is a big task for researchers. The present research work deals with the over expression of Aspartokinase gene in PBR322 plasmid present under a constitutive promoter. Aspartokinase upon overexpression in recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 cells exhibited greater L-lysine production from 2.9 mg/mL by traditional method to 3.5mg/mL after 96 h of fermentation period. The study revealed that the optimum parameters were: temperature of 30°C, 7.5 pH, agitation speed of 200 rpm, 1 vvm air flow rate and glucose concentration of 90g/l to achieve maximum yield of L-lysinemuralidhararao@yahoo.comResearch362012Corynebacterium glutamicum,over expression, L-lysine, L-lysineRamesh Malothu,Meenu Singh,Adarsh G,M.Abdul Rajak,S.V. Satyanarayana,D. Muralidhara RaoGenetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, JNTU Kakinada-UCEV, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy, NIMS University, Shoba Nagar, Jaipur.,Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, JNTU Kakinada-UCEV, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Bio Process laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, S. K. D University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Department of Chemical Engineering, JNTUA-CEA, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Bio Process laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, S. K. D University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India.