Dataset of elemental composition of LB Lennox (buffered) medium with and without glucose supplementation

Biologists are typically
concerned about the medium composition of growth medium. But, the metals and
metalloids concentrations of growth medium may be important for understanding
the growth behaviour of microorganisms in the medium, as well as for purposes
of quality control. This dataset reports the elemental concentrations of
buffered LB Lennox medium with and without glucose supplementation detected by
Agilent 7500a inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in
hot plasma mode (1260 W). Results revealed elevated concentrations of boron
(31-40 ppm), magnesium (123-126 ppm), aluminium (15-19 ppm), calcium (101-140
ppm), chromium (19-23 ppm), manganese (227-285 ppm), iron-56 (196-255 ppm),
iron-57 (896-945 ppm), nickel (2-3 ppm), and copper (45-46 ppm) in both glucose
supplemented and unsupplemented LB Lennox (buffered) medium. Relatively high
concentrations of chromium and copper may pose toxicity to microbial cells and
affect their growth and biomass formation. Buffering capacity of the LB medium
came from 89 mM phosphate constituted by dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, and
potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Overall, the presented dataset opens our eyes
to elevated concentrations of chromium and copper in LB Lennox medium, and
holds implications for our understanding of poor growth of some sensitive
microorganisms in the common rich medium.