GUANOSINE 5'-DIPHOSPHATE 3'-DIPHOSPHATE (PPGPP), GUANOSINE 5'-DIPHOSPHATE 3'-MONOPHOSPHATE (PPGP) AND ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION IN STREPTOMYCES-CLAVULIGERUS

Streptomyces clavuligerus produced cephamycin C under all nutrient lim itations investigated in batch culture, whilst clavulanic acid was pro duced under phosphate and carbon limitations, Guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (ppGpp) was produced at very low levels in all ferment ations, prior to the detection of cephamycin C in the fermentation bro th, Guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-monophosphate (ppGp) was observed at h igh levels in all fermentations; it appeared following a downturn in n utrient levels and immediately prior to detection of isopenicillin N s ynthase (IPNS), ppGp was detected following nutritional shiftdown by a mino acid depletion and it was not produced via degradation of ppGpp, The results point to a possible role for ppGp in the regulation of cep hamycin production in S. clavuligerus.