Growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes on individual amino acids.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes was tested for its ability to utilize individual amino acids as a source of carbon and nitrogen in basal medium containing 0.4 mM magnesium sulphate (0.1 g/l) in 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer at pH6.5. Growth was quantitated by measurement of both dry weight and fungal protein. Seventeen naturally occurring amino acids supported growth, serving as a source of both carbon and nitrogen. Seven amino acids failed to support growth under these conditions; however three of these could be metabolized for nitrogen, but not for carbon.