Mutants of Brevibacterium sp. R312 were isolated for the production of adipic acid from adiponitrile. One mutant (Ad) with a modified cell wall showed activity against adipamide 3 times greater than the wild type. Another mutant (ACV2) derived from the Ad strain had 30 times more activity on cyano-5-valeric acid, and 7 times more on adipamide, than the wild type. The presence of an amidase acting on amide intermediates in the hydrolysis of dinitriles to organic acids was demonstrated in these mutants.