Microcalorimetric study of Escherichia coli aerobic growth: theoretical aspects of growth on succinic acid.

Two methods of investigation were used to evaluate the heat quantity associated with anabolic processes (qan) during the aerobic growth of Escherichia coli in a minimal medium containing succinic acid as the sole energy and carbon source. The study of the contribution of biosynthetic reactions from succinic acid and ammonia were investigated by both methods. The two qan values obtained were in excellent agreement and were found to be significant. Thus it was demonstrated that the contribution of anabolism strongly influenced the quantity of heat associated with microbial aerobic growth. The qan calculated as above explained the experimental enthalpy change which was recently reported.