Anaerobic growth of Aerobacter aerogenes on citrate as a carbon source required the presence of Na(+). The growth rate increased with increasing Na(+) concentration and was optimal at 0.10 m Na(+). The requirement was specific for Na(+), which could not be replaced by K(+), NH(4) (+), Li(+), Rb(+), or Cs(+). K(+) was required for growth in the presence of Na(+), the optimal K(+) concentration b...