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.