A Minimal Synthetic Medium Supporting Growth of a Micrococcus Species

Nutritional requirements of a Micrococcus species (M. freudenreichii, A.T.C.C. No. 407) were studied. The organism required glutamic acid, thiamine, biotin, magnesium, iron, and potassium for growth. Cells from such a synthetic medium were shown to contain methionine indicating that inorganic sulphur was used. Glutamic acid could not be replaced with glutamine (unheated), aspartic acid, asparagine, nor ammonium salts. The relationship of nutritional requirements of micrococci and staphylococci to classification is discussed.