Arginine dihydrolase pathway in Lactobacillus plantarum from orange.

Lactobacillus plantarum N8 and N4 strains isolated from orange degraded L-arginine to citrulline, ornithine and ammonia. Citrulline and ornithine were consumed. Lactobacillus plantarum N4 utilized arginine and ornithine to a higher extent than Lactobacillus plantarum N8. Urea was not detected during arginine degradation, indicating that the amino acid degradation was carried out only by the arginine dihydrolase pathway. Citrulline increased the growth of the two strains, arginine only increased the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum N4. Ornithine did not modify the growth of the strains studied. With different behavior, Lactobacillus plantarum N8 and N4 strains were able to derive energy and ammonia from arginine or citrulline catabolism. This is interesting for microorganisms developing in a stressful environment.