| Abstract |
The effect of biotin on the growth and sporulation of Bacillus subtilis SNU816 was investigated. When B. subtilis SNU816 was cultured on glucose as a sole carbon source, the growth was retarded markedly and usually ceased at early log phawe. But by addition of biotin to this medium, normal, rapid growth was restored. The growth rate was increased proportionally according to the concentration of exogenous biotin until it reached to 0.05㎍/ml, at which about three fold rapid growth was achieved. Also biotin was required for optimum sporulation for it facilitated the complete utilization of both glucose(Glc) and glutamic acid(Glu). Without biotin in Glc+Glu medium, about 40% of glutamic acid was remained unutilized. The dipicolinic acid content of cells cultured in Glc+Glu medium without biotin was markedly small and sporulation was suppressed before free spore release. Since biotin could be partiallyreplaced by one of TCA cycle intermediates such as oxalacetic acid, citric acid, or glutamic acid in enhancing growth in Glc medium, it was postulated that this strain might have a defect in converting pyruvate to oxalacetate which process is known to be mediated by pyruvate carboxylase that requires biotin as a cofactor. |
