Caffeine으로부터 theobromine을 생산하기 위하여 토양으로부터 theobromine 생산능력이 있는 5종의 균주를 선별하였다. 그들 중 CT-017 균주가 theobromine 생산능력이 가장 우수하였으며 Pseudomonas sp.로 부분동정되었다. Theobromine 생산에 있어서, 탄소원과 질소원으로는 5 g/l fructose와 5 g/l beef extracts가 가장 우수하였으며, 0.02 g/l $Fe^{2+}$, threonine 1.0 g/l을 사용하였을 때 가장 효과적이었다. 최적배양온도 및 초기 pH는 각각 $28^{circ}C$ 및 6.5이었다. 상기의 최적조건하에서, 23시간 배양하였을 때, 15 g/l caffeine으로부터 7.98 g/l의 theobromine이 생산되었으며 이때의 전환율은 53.2% 이었다.
For the production of theobromine from caffeine, 5 strains of bacteria capable of producing theobromine were isolated from soil. Among them, the strain CT-017 showed the best ability of producing theobromine, and was partially identified as a Pseudomonas sp. For the production of theobromine, fructose was the most effective carbon source at an optimum concentration of 5 g/l. The most effective nitrogen source was 5 g/l of beef extracts. And 0.02 g/l of $Fe^{2+}$, 1.0 g/l of threonine were effective for the production of theobromine. The optimum temperature and initial pH were $28^{circ}C$ and 6.5, respectively. After 23 hr cultivation, 7.98 g/l of theobromine was produced from 15 g/l of caffeine which corresponds to a conversion yield of 53.2%.
