Effect of ammonium ion on growth and metabolism of Micrococcus sodonensis.

Campbell, J. N. (American Meat Institute Foundation, Chicago, Ill.), James B. Evans, Jerome J. Perry, and C. F. Niven, Jr. Effect of ammonium ion on growth and metabolism of Micrococcus sodonensis. J. Bacteriol. 82:823-827. 1961.-When Micrococcus sodonensis was grown in a synthetic medium deficient in ammonia, large quantities of alpha-keto acids, chiefly alpha-ketoglutaric, accumulated in the medium. The addition of ammonium chloride to this medium prevented such accumulation and also supported increased growth, even in the presence of excess glutamate. Neither potassium nor sodium would substitute for ammonia in producing this effect. The results indicate that this microorganism has a specific requirement for the ammonium ion in its growth and metabolism. If not supplied exogenously, ammonia is made available by deamination of glutamic acid. The exact route of incorporation of ammonia is unknown.