[Study of possible biological transformation of kanamycin to amikacin]

For transformation of kanamycin A (Km) to amikacin (Ak) with acylating enzymes from B. circulans, a culture producing butirosin (Btn), cellular and acellular conversion systems and methods for chemical and biological identification of Km, Ak and Btn were developed. The level of conversion of Km to Ak in vivo and in vitro did not exceed 2 per cent.