Bistability in the glucose and energy metabolism of ammonia-limited chemostat cultures of Escherichia coli ML 30

Recently bistability in the pyruvate production of ammonia-limited glucose-grown Escherichia coli ML 30 chemostat cultures was evidenced. The present investigation shows that the state of higher pyruvate production is connected with a lower glycogen content than in cells in the state of lower pyruvate production. The results support the view of a regulation of bistability on the step of pyruvate consumption by the citric acid cycle. Pronounced differences in energy formation in the two states of glucose bistability are discussed.