The adaptation of Bact. lactis aerogenes to glycerol and to various carbohydrates

Abstract

When Bacterium lactis aerogenes is adapted to utilize glycerol as a carbon source, the organism may or may not retain this ability. The authors found 3 stages: adaptation unstable in that the organism rapidly lost this ability when subcultured in glycerol free media; adaptation also unstable, but the organism reverted at a much slower rate; adaptation very stable in that the organism did not revert even after many subcultures in the absence of glycerol. Minor adaptive changes were observed in training to utilize xylose and [iota]-arabinose. However, with [image]-arabinose a major change occurs. The behavior of B. lactis aerogenes with [image]-arabinose closely parallels that of B. coli mutabile with lactose.