Influence of glucose and dissolved oxygen concentrations on yields of Escherichia coli B in dialysis culture.

Yields of Escherichia coli B grown on glucose were determined in dialysis and non-dialysis culture. The molar growth yields were compared under conditions of excess glucose and oxygen as well as glucose- and oxygen-limiting conditions. The molar growth yields on glucose (YG) were determined for different periods during growth in non-dialysis cultures. A rapid decrease of YG was observed and growth ceased even in the presence of high concentrations of glucose and dissolved oxygen in the culture liquid. The decrease in YG was delayed in dialysis cultures where a high YG could be maintained at very high cell concentrations. The inhibition of growth depended on the accumulation of end-products of fermentative degradation of glucose. These products interfered with the oxidative phosphorylation. A large proportion of the glucose was fermented even in the presence of high concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the culture liquid. A decrease in the growth yield per g glucose was also observed.