Arginine deiminase system and bacterial adaptation to acid environments

Abstract

The arginine deiminase system in a variety of streptococci and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be unusually acid tolerant in that arginolysis occurred at pH values well below the minima for growth and glycolysis. The acid tolerance of the system allowed bacteria to survive potentially lethal acidification through production of ammonia to raise the environmental pH value.