Growth response and modifications of organic nitrogen compounds in pure and mixed cultures of lactic acid bacteria from wine.

The interactions between the proteolytic X2L strain of Oenococcus oeni and the non-proteolytic 12p strain of Pediococcus pentosaceus were assayed. The characteristics of cell growth, protein degradation, and amino acid production of both strains were determined in pure and mixed cultures. O. oeni showed poor cell growth and greater ability in the release of amino acids to the extracellular medium, whereas P. pentosaceus showed a higher yield in cell production with a decrease in the amino acid concentration in the medium. P. pentosaceus especially consumed essential amino acids for growth, and O. oeni released several of the essential amino acids important for growth of P. pentosaceus. In the mixed culture, mutualism was observed. The higher activity of the proteolytic system of O. oeni in mixed culture produced an increase in cell growth and in the amount of essential amino acids released. These findings provide new knowledge about the metabolic interactions between lactic acid bacteria isolated from wine when proteins are degraded in mixed bacterial populations.