BACTERIAL FERMENTATION OF CREATININE I

Abstract

By means of anaerobic enrichment culture technique, an organism has been isolated from sewage sludge and identified (by Dr. L. S. Mc Lung) as Clostridium paraputrificum strain Bs. High concentrations of creatinine are required for maximum growth in addition to yeast extract and CO2. During growth, creatinine disappeared; a mole of NH3 was found per mole of creatinine decomposed and a new compound accumulated in the medium. The new compound was isolated in pure form and identified as N-methylhydantoin. Possible mechanisms of the formation of N-methylhydantoin in relation to the energy requirement for growth are discussed.