Comparative survey in Lactobacillus plantarum of the growth and metabolism of arginine and citrulline in different media.

Arginine deiminase activity increased in the presence of arginine in Lactobacillus plantarum strains N4 and N8 isolated from orange. The influence of citrulline and ornithine on arginine deiminase and ornithine transcarbamylase activities was strain-dependent. The growth and arginine and citrulline metabolism of L. plantarum were studied in the presence of tomato juice. Its addition enhances the growth in both strains. The specific amino acids utilization was inversely proportional to the initial glucose concentration. Arginine and citrulline addition to basal medium exerted a stimulatory effect on the growth of N4 strain, and this effect was observed only with citrulline in strain N8. The magnitude of this effect was lower in the presence of tomato juice.