Effect of culture parameters on tobramycin biosynthesis

The effect of temperature, aeration and active acidity of the medium on biosynthesis of tobramycin was studied. The optimal temperature conditions (37 degrees C) were developed. It was shown that biosynthesis of tobramycin depended on the aeration conditions, especially at the beginning of the fermentation process. The initial pH 4.9-6.35 and 6.35-7.1 were found to be optimal for the growth of the tobramycin-producing organism and biosynthesis of the antibiotic, respectively.     

Effect of the initial pH value of the medium on the growth of Streptococcus lactis and the biosynthesis of nisin]

The effect of the initial pH value of the medium within 4.0 to 6.6 on the growth of Str. lactis and biosynthesis of nicin was studied. It was found that at the initial pH 4.0--4.5 of the medium the growth of the culture was poor, i.e. 11--14% of the control (initiral pH 6.6). With an increase in the value of the initial pH at least to 5.0 the growth of Str. lactis also increased. At the initial pH 4.0 no biosynthesis of nicin was observed. Under the experimental conditions the antibiotic synthesis by tr. lactic started at the initial pH being equal to 4.5 and reached its maximum at pH 6.6.     

Biosynthesis of the non-polyene antibiotic imbricin in the medium containing the producer culture filtrate]

Imbricin (macrolide nonpolyen antibiotic) biosynthesis conditions was investigated in the medium containing culture filtrate of its producer--Streptomyces imbricatus. It was demonstrated that filtrate contains some regulator substance affecting the antibiotic biosynthesis and metabolism processes of actinomycetes S. imbricatus. Maximum of regulator accumulation coincides with maximum of antibiotic biosynthesis, and amount of synthesized imbricin is proportional to the amount of the culture filtrate added to the medium. When low active mutant of S. imbricatus was grown in the medium with added regulator its activity achieved the control level. It was shown that stimulating activity of the producer's culture filtrate is not connected with pH changes or with supplement with some additional nutritional substrates.     

Effect of glycerin on the biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus

Glycerol as the sole carbon source was added to the medium or biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus and the effect of its concentration on the culture growth and antibiotic production was studied. The culture growth and the amount of the antibiotic synthesized per 1 unit of the fermentation broth were limited by glycerol added in quantities of 0.05 to 1 per cent. Further increasing of the glycerol concentration had no significant effect on the culture growth and antibiotic biosynthesis. The amount of the antibiotic synthesized per 1 unit of the mycelial mass relatively slightly depended on the glycerol concentration. The rate of glycerol consumption by the young 24-hour culture in batch fermentations markedly exceeded that of glycerol consumption by the 48-hour culture. The younger mycelium significantly increased its rate of glycerol consumption when the initial concentration was increased whereas the rate of glycerol consumption by the more mature mycelium did not depend on the initial concentration of the carbon source (within 0.5-2 per cent). The rate of heliomycin biosynthesis practically slightly depended on the initial concentration of glycerol.     

Adsorption of the antibiotic, nisin, to Streptococcus lactis cells

Nizin is produced by Str. lactis, strain MSU. During biosynthesis it is excreted into the fermentation broth and gradually adsorbed on the organism cells. This was confirmed by experiments with an inactive variant of Str. lactis IIa. The cells of this culture adsorbed nizin from "active" fermentation broth. Adsorption of nizin depended on pH of the medium; at pH 2,3 the cells did not adsorbe the antibiotic and at pH 6.6 the amount of the antibiotic adsorbed by the cells was maximum.     

Effect of different pH values on the medium on the synthesis of antibiotics in the joint cultivation of Actinomyces levoris with yeasts]

Changes in the pH level of the fermentation medium used for preliminary cultivation of C. tropicalis were studied with respect to its initial aciditv or alkalinitv. When C. tropicalis was grown on the medium used for levorin fermentation with ph 5.1--10.3, the yeast changed it in 24 hours to the level of 6.2--7.9. As dependent on the initial pH values for cultivation of C. trophicalis, production of levorin on subsequent inoculation of Act. levoris changed. The antibiotic activity increased and ranged within 120--178% of the control. Synthesis of levoristatin, a non-polyenic antibiotic equally increased under such conditions and ranged within 153--163% of the control. The pH values of 9.4--10.3 of the initial fermentation medium were optimal for mixed cultivation of Act levoris and C. tropicalis and maxium production of levorin and levoristatin.     

Reproducibility of the biosynthetic parameters in various fermentation equipment

The final parameters of tetracycline biosynthesis in different fermentation apparatus were analysed comparatively with an account of possible changing of the fermentation broth volume against the initial one due to water evaporation. It was shown that for comparison of the biosynthesis parameters in different fermentation apparatus it is necessary to reestimate the activity values or the antibiotic concentration in a unit of the medium volume with respect to the initial volume of the fermentation medium charged into the apparatus.     

Effect of pH on bile salt degradation by mixed fecal cultures

Stool specimens from 3 healthy volunteers were cultured under anaerobic conditions in brain heart infusion broth with and without the addition of cholate, deoxycholate or chenodeoxycholate. The initial pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.5, 6.3, 7.3 (unadjusted), 8.0, and 9.0. Cell-free extracts prepared from the resulting bacterial growth contained increased levels of NAD- and NADP-dependent 3α-, 7α-, and 12α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductases when the initial pH was 8.0 or 9.0 and depressed levels of these activities when the initial pH was 5.5 or 6.3 (as compared to control values obtained at 7.3). At pH 5.5 all activities except NAD-dependent 7α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase were absent. A powerful selective effect was imposed on NAD-dependent 7α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase when deoxycholate or chenodeoxycholate were incorporated into the medium. Thin-layer chromatography of ether extracts of cholate-containing, acidified spent bacterial medium showed measurable amounts of deoxycholate only when the initial culture pH was alkaline or neutral (optimal at pH 8). The percent hydroxyl group estimations at the 3α-, 7α-, and 12α-positions revealed an increase in disappearance of OH groups at all three positions with increasing initial pH value. The order of extent of bioconversion was 7α-OH > 12α-OH > 3α-OH; at pH 8 and 9, approximately 90% 7α-OH bioconversion was observed. Spent bacterial media and a number of commercial secondary bile salts were all negative in the Ames' assay for mutagenicity.     

Statistical optimization of process variables for antibiotic activity of Xenorhabdus bovienii

The production of secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties is a common characteristic to entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. These metabolites not only have diverse chemical structures but also have a wide range of bioactivities of medicinal and agricultural interests. Culture variables are critical to the production of secondary metabolites of microorganisms. Manipulating culture process variables can promote secondary metabolite biosynthesis and thus facilitate the discovery of novel natural products. This work was conducted to evaluate the effects of five process variables (initial pH, medium volume, rotary speed, temperature, and inoculation volume) on the antibiotic production of Xenorhabdus bovienii YL002 using response surface methodology. A 2(5-1) factorial central composite design was chosen to determine the combined effects of the five variables, and to design a minimum number of experiments. The experimental and predicted antibiotic activity of X. bovienii YL002 was in close agreement. Statistical analysis of the results showed that initial pH, medium volume, rotary speed and temperature had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the antibiotic production of X. bovienii YL002 at their individual level; medium volume and rotary speed showed a significant effect at a combined level and was most significant at an individual level. The maximum antibiotic activity (287.5 U/mL) was achieved at the initial pH of 8.24, medium volume of 54 mL in 250 mL flask, rotary speed of 208 rpm, temperature of 32.0°C and inoculation volume of 13.8%. After optimization, the antibiotic activity was improved by 23.02% as compared with that of unoptimized conditions.     

pH-dependent changes of ganglioside biosynthesis in neuronal cell culture

Ganglioside biosynthesis was studied in primary cultured murine cerebellar cells after labeling with [14C]galactose. A shift in biosynthesis from "a"-series to "b"-series gangliosides was observed after lowering the pH of the culture medium from 7.4 to 6.2; this effect was fully reversible on changing back to pH 7.4. The observed regulatory effect of pH is in accordance with a recent model of ganglioside biosynthesis. Sialyltransferase II (ST II), the first enzyme for biosynthesis of "b"-series gangliosides, is more active at pH 6.2 than Gal-NAc-transferase, the first enzyme for synthesis of "a"-series gangliosides, which is more active than sialyltransferase II at pH 7.4.     

Molecularly imprinted hydrophilic polymer sorbents for selective sorption of erythromycin

New hydrophilic polymer sorbents comprising reactionary sites which are complementary to a molecule of antibiotic erythromycin were synthesized by the method of molecular imprinting. A series of similar sorbents without reactionary sites was used for comparison of sorption characteristics. Sorption of erythromycin on both types of polymer sorbents synthesized was studied in a wide range of pH and ionic strength. Selectivity of erythromycin sorption on molecularly imprinted cross-linked polymers was shown to depend on the specific interaction of target molecule with polymer matrix. This type of sorbent is perspective for the development of antibiotic purification directly from a culture medium Saccharopolyspora erythreus.     

Study of the dynamics of n-propyl alcohol in an Act. erythreus culture during the biosynthesis of erythromycin using a gas-liquid chromatographic method]

The effect of n-propyl alcohol on biosynthesis of erythromycin and the dynamics of the precursor consumption were studied with the method of gas-liquid chromatography. It was shown that neither the optimal concentration of the precursor, nor its stimulating effect on different media correlated. n-Propyl alcohol was used not only for the antibiotic biosynthesis but also according to other metabolic path-ways and in addition its evaporation from the medium was registered. During the first period of the fermentation n-propyl alcohol suppressed the antibiotic biosynthesis.     

Optimisation of synthetic medium composition for levorin biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 and investigation of its accumulation dynamics using mathematical modelling methods

The composition of a synthetic culture medium for levorin biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 was optimised using mathematical modelling methods. The optimal concentrations of the medium components were established by means of an optimum composition design at three factor variation levels. An adequate regression model was obtained. Levorin biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 in the optimised synthetic medium was over 38% higher than in the initial medium. The antibiotic biosynthesis dynamics in the optimised culture medium was studied by means of a non-linear differential equation system. The resultant model was valid.     

Macrokinetic equations of pH effect on the growth of Actinomyces aureofaciens and biosynthesis of tetracycline]

The effect of pH on the culture respiration rate at different concentrations of glucose in the medium was studied. It was found that the hydrogen ions showed their effect irrespective of the subsrate concentration in the medium. In this connection a type of macrokinetic equations of the effect of pH on the growth and antibiotic biosynthesis was chosen. The constants of the model were determined.     

Study of the effect of protoplast formation on the antibiotic activity of erythromycin producers

The influence of protoplasting and regeneration on the strains of the erythromycin-producing organism differing by their origin was studied with respect to changes in the antibiotic production property. 223 regenerates of the erythromycin-producing culture were tested in several generations and it was shown that there was a marked change in the range of the variation by that property. 40 to 70 per cent of the variants in the IInd generation increased their levels of erythromycin biosynthesis by 20 to 60 per cent as compared to the intact cultures. However, in the subcultures the antibiotic production level decreased and by the IVth generation only 3 to 6 per cent of the variants preserved its increase by 10 to 20 per cent over the control level because of the culture high instability.     

The autocrine regulation of the proliferation of cell line A-549 under conditions facilitating the acidification of the culture medium]

The influence of serum-free media, previously conditioned by A-549 line cells of the human lung adenocarcinoma (c-medium), on the intensity of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of the same cells was studied. It was found that, depending on the duration of conditioning (2, 4 and 6 days), the c-media were obtained with corresponding values of pH--7.2, 6.9 and 6.3, in the latter case the contact inhibition of cell growth being seen. On culturing the A-549 line cells in the c-medium at pH 7.2 and 6.9, the intensity of DNA biosynthesis was shown to be 2.4 and 1.8 times higher, respectively, compared to that under condition of the fresh serum-free medium. The cell culturing in the c-medium at pH 6.3 (here and in the case of pH 6.9 c-medium the media pH were made up to 7.2 before utilization) leads to the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis intensity in the cells. It was also detected that a temporary acidification of the pH 7.2 c-medium to pH 4.0 or 2.0, using, respectively CO2 bubbling or HCl titration, caused the growth inhibiting manifestation in this medium. The results obtained testify that the carcinoma cells of A-549 line are able to secrete into the cultured medium both stimulators and inhibitors of DNA biosynthesis, with a transforming growth factor beta being of primary importance among the latter.     

Effect of pH on the activity and stability of clastogens in the in vitro chromosomal aberration test with Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells

The effect of the pH of the medium on the clastogenic activity of several direct-acting and indirect clastogens was evaluated in the in vitro chromosomal aberration test with Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. Furthermore, the stability of the chemicals in the cell culture medium was measured by HPLC over the pH range of 5.0-11.0. The activity of the direct-acting clastogens mitomycin C (MMC), N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) at various pH values depended on their stability. In the case of ENNG, its clastogenic activity decreased to about one-fifth at pH 9 but was about twice as high at acidic pH compared with that at pH 7.4. This is consistent with the observation that ENNG is unstable at basic pH; the residual content of ENNG was 0.5% of the initial amount in cell culture medium at pH 9.0 after a 2-h incubation. 4NQO was unstable at strongly basic pH (pH 10-11), and MMC was unstable at pH 5.0 and pH 11.0. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations induced by MMC and ENNG were correspondingly decreased at these pH values. On the other hand, the clastogenicities of the indirect clastogens 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), which require metabolic activation, were reduced at pH 10-11 and pH 5.8. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations at these pHs were almost equal to negative control values. These chemicals were stable in the medium in the absence of S9 mix over the pH range of 5.0-11.0. Thus clastogenicity of indirect-acting clastogens is reduced under extreme pH conditions, probably because of the instability or nonformation of the active form. The present results indicate that the clastogenic activity of any compound will depend on its stability in the medium irrespective of its direct- or indirect-acting nature. In addition, some of the chemicals that are recognized as clastogens presumably might induce chromosomal aberrations by means of acidic pH itself. It is, therefore, important to take account of the pH of the treatment medium in evaluating the clastogenicity of chemicals.     

Cyclic adenosine-3',5-monophosphate in Streptomyces antibioticus and its possible role in regulating oleandomycin biosynthesis and the growth of the culture

When glucose is substituted for sucrose in the fermentation medium for Streptomyces antibioticus, the pH of the cultural broth becomes more acidic, the rate of protein synthesis in the mycelium rises, and the rate of oleandomycin synthesis decreases abruptly. The dynamics of cAMP (cyclic monophosphate) accumulation was studied in the process of biosynthesis by the culture in different media. Most of the synthesized cAMP (80-90%) was shown to be excreted into the medium. Glucose stimulates cAMP synthesis and excretion from the mycelium by a factor of 1.5-3. No distinct correlation was found between cAMP content in S. antibioticus cells and the level of oleandomycin biosynthesis. A correlation between changes in the concentration of exocellular cAMP and protein synthesis in the mycelium suggests that the excreted cAMP may be involved in regulating the growth of the culture producing the antibiotic.     

Biotechnological grounds for the regulation of the component composition of cephalosporins in cultures of Acremonium chrysogenum

The dynamics of cephalosporine C and desacetylcephalosporine C alterations in cultures of Acremonium chrysogenum 309A under different conditions was studied. It was shown expedient to determine the fermantation period by the data of HPLC. Genetic predisposition of the strain used to production of both cephalosporine C and desacetylcephalosporine C is discussed. With changing the cultivation procedure, medium active acidity and cultivation time it is possible to change the biosynthesis pathway.     

Growth-Biosynthesis Relationships in Erythromycin Fermentation

The relationship of erythromycin biosynthesis to growth appears to vary with the fermentation medium in which the microorganism is grown. In a medium containing a complex nitrogen source, antibiotic production occurred only when growth was halted, whereas in a glycine-containing synthetic medium the two parameters increased at nearly the same time. An autostimulation of antibiotic production through addition of erythromycin is reported. Also described is the use of a labeled precursor as an index of biosynthesis rates during short periods of time.