Utilization of single L-amino acids as sole source of carbon and nitrogen by bacteria

Abstract

The utilization of single L-amino acids as sole source of carbon and nitrogen by bacteria was studied and was found to be very common and widely distributed over many genera. Field soil contained large numbers of such bacteria; 7.7–79.2% of the colony count obtained on nutrient agar could be achieved by using a single amino acid as sole carbon and nitrogen source. Twenty taxonomically known bacteria which could use one or more amino acids were examined for the range of amino acids over which they could grow. Organisms which grew on one amino acid usually grew on several. Some ecological aspects of these findings are discussed.