title: Ammonium toxicity in bacteria.
abstract: Although an excellent nitrogen source for most bacteria, ammonium was-in analogy to plant and animal systems-assumed be detrimental to bacteria when present in high concentrations. In this study, we examined the effect of molar ammonium concentrations on different model bacteria, namely, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. The studied bacteria are highly resistant to ammonium. When growth was impaired upon addition of molar (NH4)2SO4 concentrations, this was not caused by an ammonium-specific effect but was due to an enhanced osmolarity or increased ionic strength of the medium. Therefore, it was concluded that ammonium is not detrimental to C. glutamicum and other bacteria even when present in molar concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, Köln, 50674, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burkovski
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds