Ammonia production from yeast extract and its effect on growth of the hyperthermophilic archaeonSulfolobus solfataricus

Utilization of yeast extract and formation of byproduct metabolite were investigated for hyperthermophilic archaeonSulfolobus solfataricus (DSM 1617). In both batch and fed-batch cultivations ofS. solfataricus, maximal cell density, NH₄ ⁺ ion production and pH change were highly dependent on the ratio of yeast extract to glucose in the medium. Variation of NH₄ ⁺ ion level was identified as a major cause of pH change during cultivation, and acidification of culture broth was attributed to consumption of NH₄ ⁺ ions rather than formation of acid byproducts. It was also observed that increase of NH₄ ⁺ ion concentrations in the medium resulted in greater degree of growth inhibition.