[Bistability of pyruvate production by E. coli ML30 in continuous culture]

The pyruvate production of E. coli ML30 in continuous cultures was investigated. In a glucose mineralsalt medium with ammonium as the limiting substrate two stable stationary states (bistability) of pyruvate concentration were obtained. The bistability was limited to dilution rates lower than 0.3 h-1 and connected with a decrease of the yield coefficient (Y Glc) from approximately 0.45 to approximately 0.1.