Microcalorimetry studies of energy changes during the growth of Klebsiella aerogenes in simple salts/glucose media: growth in phosphate-limited medium.

The power-time traces for cells of Klebsiella aerogenes grown in phosphate-limited media were unlike those for cells grown in phosphate-sufficient media. At a phosphate concentration of 18 mumol dm-3 three phases of growth were recognized: the exponential growth phase during which phosphate became exhausted; a slower growth phase to the exhaustion of glucose, and a period of minimal growth when acetate, formed as secondary metabolite, was metabolized. At a concentration of 40 mumol dm-3 only two phases were identified. From the measured values of biomass, carbon dioxide output, glucose and acetate, mass and energy balances were established for each phase of growth and for overall growth. The results are discussed in terms of the energy stored as biomass, that wasted as heat and that required for maintenance and biosynthetic processes when the cells are grown under normal and stressful conditions.