Effect of Arginine on Growth and Formation of Arginine Dihydrolase in Streptococcus faecalis.

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Abstract
Strains D10 and ST of S. faecalis were shown on a synthetic culture medium to require arginine for growth. Citrulline, the intermediate compound in the hydrolysis of arginine by these organisms, was found to replace arginine. Citrulline, however, produced only 25% as much growth. Strain ST, in contrast to D10, possessed the ability to produce in very young cells a strong arginine dihydrolase enzyme system in the presence of small (10 [mu]g./ml.) quantities of arginine. Approx. 100 times as much arginine was required by D10 to produce a comparable enzyme activity. Serial fermentation analyses of cultures of the 2 strains are presented in relation to the rate of synthesis of the arginine dihydrolase enzyme system by the cells. No significant quantities of arginine desimidase were formed when citrulline was used as a substrate for growth. It is concluded that the synthesis of arginine di-hydrolase in strain ST is directly connected with growth. Although both ST and D10 require arginine for growth, a strong dihydrolase enzyme system is not required by D10 for max. cell formation to occur.

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