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Maintenance energy: a general model for energy-limited and energy-sufficient growth

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Abstract

The new model proposed to account for the energy requirement for growth includes both a constant maintenance energy term (m) independent of the specific growth rate and a term (m′) which decreases linearly with increase in specific growth rate and becomes zero at the maximum specific growth rate. The available data for testing the model do not deviate significantly from the relations predicted. Consistent values of the maximum growth yield (Y G) can be derived, irrespective of whether the cultures are energy limited or energy sufficient. Attention is drawn to the possibility that the constant maintenance energy term may be estimated from the maximum specific growth rate.

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Abbreviations

a :

specific maintenance rate

h-1 :

m, overall maintenance energy coefficient

m 1 :

constant maintenance energy coefficient

m′:

growth-rate dependent maintenance energy coefficient when μ=0, that is, (m-m1); mmol substrate (g dry wt)-1 h-1

q :

specific rate of substrate utilization; subscript denotes the substrate

q m :

the maximum value; mmol (g dry wt)-1 h-1

Y :

growth yield

Y G :

maximum value (when m=0); mg dry wt (mmol substrate)-1

μ:

specific growth rate; μm, the maximum value (when m=0)

μm :

observed maximum value; h-1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Department, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, Campden Hill Road, W8 7AH, London, UK

    S. J. Pirt

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  1. S. J. Pirt
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Pirt, S.J. Maintenance energy: a general model for energy-limited and energy-sufficient growth. Arch. Microbiol. 133, 300–302 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00521294

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00521294

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