Production of Amino-acids in Synthetic Media by Escherichia coli and Aerobacter aerogenes

Abstract

STUDIES of the effect of glutamate and aspartate on the lag phase^1,2 and the early logarithmic phase³ of Escherichia coli and Aerobacter aerogenes growing in a basal glucose – ammonium salt medium have suggested that these amino-acids and related non-nitrogenous compounds are important as intermediates necessary in cell division. This function is also emphasized by the work of Lwoff and Monod⁴ and Ajl and Workman⁵, who have studied their use to replace the carbon dioxide requirement of bacteria growing in synthetic media. Morrison and Hinshelwood¹, using paper chromatography, have reported traces of glutamate and aspartate, in cultures through which air of normal carbon dioxide content was bubbled, after an approximate ninety-fold concentration of the liquid.