[Effect of auxotrophic mutations on the bacitracin production level in Bacillus licheniformis]

The bacitracin production levels in some auxotrophic mutants of a highly active strain 1001 and strain ATCC 10716 were studied. It was shown that auxotrophic mutations in the genomes of the above strains resulted in decreasing of bacitracin production. In double auxotrophic mutants the synthesis of bacitracin was sometimes at the level of the initial strain. It was found that various amino acids and bases added to the cultivation medium in concentrations of 1 to 10 mg/ml either increased or decreased the production of bacitracin. It is suggested that some amino acids may play the decisive role in the control of the bacitracin synthesis.