Patent ID: 6946268

Claim:
A recombinant bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia having an L-cysteine producing ability and modified so that an activity of endogenous cystathionine-β-lyase is reduced as compared to an unmodified bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia or eliminated by modification of a polynucleotide encoding said cystathionine-β-lyase, wherein the cystathionine-β-lyase has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, or the cystathionine-β-lyase is encoded by a DNA selected from the group consisting of: (a) a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, and (b) a DNA which hybridizes under stringent condition with a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, wherein the stringent condition comprises washing in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C.