The growth of a cyanide-utilising strain ofPseudomonas fluorescensin liquid culture on nickel cyanide as a source of nitrogen

Abstract

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain NCIMB11764 is able to utilise cyanide as a source of nitrogen for growth. When KCN(≡ HCN) is the source of nitrogen it has to be supplied as the limiting nutrient in fed-batch cultures [1]. In this study it has been shown that metal-complexed cyanide, as nickel cyanide (Ni(CN)2−4), can be used as the source of nitrogen when it is added directly to the growth medium in batch cultures. Ni(CN)2−4 could also be used as the source of nitrogen in nitrogen-limited continuous cultures. In both batch and continuous cultures, growth on Ni(CN)2−4 was associated with induction of cyanide oxygenase activity. An assay for cyanide has been developed utilising its binding to nickel.