[Changes in the redox potential in Escherichia coli growth cessation]

Escherichia coli strains K-12 and M-17 were grown in batch and continuous cultures, with pulse addition of glucose or a nitrogen source as limiting substrates; the redox potential decreased when the growth ceased. The maximal deviation of the Eh was 150 mV when the strain K-12 ceased to grow. The Eh decreased rapidly for 25 min in the strain K-12 and for about 10--12 min in the strain M-17; then the Eh returned slowly to the initial level. The second phase took about 150 min in the strain K-12 and 40 to 60 min in the strain M-17. No changes in the Eh were found when the culture was grown under the anaerobic conditions.