[Department of Biochemistry of Microorganisms--start of the path (1951-1973)]

Creation of the Department of Biochemistry of Microorganisms at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukrainian SSR in the 30's of the last century was determined by a necessity of profound investigation of vital activity biochemism of microorganisms from various systematic groups which were studied in microbiological department of the Institute. Such complexity can explain certain diversity of the Department research at initial stages of its existence. The research of saccharose transformation into dextran Leuconostoc mesenteroides, when production solutions become slingy at sugar-refinaries, was one of the first most significant works of the Department. The enzyme saccharose-glycosyl-transferase performing this process was described for the first time. A cycle of works on the study of enzymes splitting lactose in milk under the effect of Streptococcus lactis has been carried out. Complex investigation of a number of proteins, polysaccharides, enzymes in enterobacteria has shown that the blocking of the enzyme aldolase is one of the reasons of alkali formation. A method has been developed for isolation of arenarin, antibiotic of plant origin, from sandy everlasting, the nature of its acting basis has been established. Nufarin, an active antibiotic, was isolated from the roots of white water lily when studying nitrogen fixation processes, special attention was given to interaction of hydrogenase and enzymes, taking part in nitrogen fixation, to the effect of ATP on these processes, ways of its synthesis, localization of ATPase in the cell membranes. Works on the study of lypopolysaccharides and polysaccharides of Gram-negative enterobacteria, bacteria of Pseudomonas genus were started with the purpose to use the obtained data to specify systematic propositions of the investigated microorganisms. Further on these works became the basis of thematic department. There are numerous reviews dedicated to their development.