[Regulation of heliomycin biosynthesis by the carbon source]

The effect of different carbon sources on the biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus 11-98 was studied. Inverse relationship between the culture growth rate and the biosynthesis of heliomycin in the media with different sugars was shown. Arabinose and glucose provided the highest culture growth rate, while the levels of the antibiotic biosynthesis were the lowest. With the use of lactose the culture growth rate was the lowest and the antibiotic biosynthesis level was the highest. The level of the antibiotic biosynthesis was determined not only by the culture growth rate but also by the nature of the carbon source. With the use of glucose repression of heliomycin biosynthesis was much lower than that with the use of arabinose, while the culture growth rates were similar. Addition of glucose to the medium with lactose resulted in increasing of the antibiotic biosynthesis as long as the glucose concentration in the medium increased. Glycerol proved to be the most favourable carbon source for the biosynthesis of heliomycin. It also provided a comparatively high rate of the culture growth. Arabinose inhibited the antibiotic synthesis in the medium with glycerol and the inhibition level rose with an increase in the arabinose concentration. It is suggested that regulation of heliomycin biosynthesis is of the "glucose effect" type.