FORMATION OF TREHALOSE BY R-VARIANTS AND S-VARIANTS OF RHODOCOCCUS-ERYTHROPOLIS

Trehalose formation was studied in R and S variants of Rhodococcus ery thropolis under normal cultivation conditions (Czapek medium, 24 degre es C) and also at elevated or decreased temperature and under osmotic stress. Under all cultivation conditions, the concentration of trehalo se in cells of the S variant was two to three times higher than that i n R cells. The medium most favorable for trehalose production was nutr ient broth. Stress factors considerably enhanced trehalose biosynthesi s. Typically, all the trehalose formed was localized inside cells; onl y under heat shock was trehalose released into the medium. The results are discussed in light of the hypothesis advanced earlier implying th at rhodococci have an efficient regulation system that provides for a response of cell wall polymer synthesis to the substrate used.