UTILIZATION OF ARGININE AS AN ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE GROWTH OF STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS

Abstract

Deibel , R. H. (American Meat Institute Foundation, Chicago, Ill.). Utilization of arginine as an energy source for the growth of Streptococcus faecalis . J. Bacteriol. 87: 988–992. 1964.—Although both Streptococcus faecalis and S. faecium (and its variety durans ) hydrolyze arginine, the utilization of this amino acid as an energy source appears to have taxonomic utility, as only S. faecalis and its varieties can couple the resultant energy with growth processes. Utilization of arginine by S. faecalis in a semisynthetic, casein-hydrolysate medium requires small concentrations of a fermentable carbohydrate (0.05%), presumably for synthetic reactions. The arginine analogue, agmatine, is utilized as an energy source by S. faecalis but not by S. faecium , and only approxinately 50% of the latter strains hydrolyzed this compound. Other ureido- and guanido-containing compounds tested were neither utilized as an energy source nor deaminated.