SECONDARY METABOLISM IN SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY - BETA-LACTAM PRODUCTION BY STREPTOMYCES-CLAVULIGERUS

Rotating bioreactors designed at NASA's Johnson Space Center were used to simulate a microgravity environment in which to study secondary me tabolism, The system examined was p-lactam antibiotic production by St reptomyces clavuligerus, Both growth and p-lactam production occurred in simulated microgravity, Stimulatory effects of phosphate and L-lysi ne, previously detected in normal gravity, also occurred in simulated microgravity, The degree of p-lactam antibiotic production was markedl y inhibited by simulated microgravity.