Utilization of citrate byLeuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.cremoris in continuous culture

Summary Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.cremoris was grown in continuous culture in lactose medium with varying citrate concentrations. All citrate (10, 25, 50 and 75 mMol/l) was used and lactose consumption increased with increasing initial citrate concentrations correlate with an increase of dry cell weight. Citrate lead to an increase of acetate and could be a source of ATPvia acetate kinase pathway. For each steady state, Y_ATP values were calculated and were twice greater than the generally accepted value of 10.5. The maintenance energy was calculated it was constant for lactose (2.5 mMol/l.h.) and increased for citrate suggesting a greater requirement of energy for citrate utilization.