Mineral nutrition of Aerobacter aerogenes for valine production in a synthetic medium

The effect of a number of mineral salts, like dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulphate, and sodium chloride, and of some trace elements including iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and calcium, on the production of valine by Aerobacter aerogenes in a synthetic medium was investigated. It was found that all the mineral salts were necessary for valine formation. Among the trace elements, iron and molybdenum were found to be necessary in minute concentrations for the optimum yield of the amino acid, while all the others had an adverse effect on valine production, even at lower levels.