PRODUCTION OF ACTINORHODIN BY STREPTOMYCES-COELICOLOR A3(2) GROWN IN CHEMOSTAT CULTURE

Streptomyces coelicolorwas grown in variously limited chemostat cultur es and the specific rate of extra-cellular actinorhodin production (q( actinorhodin)) was measured. The highest q(actinorhodin) values were o bserved in glucose- or ammonia-limited cultures, whereas almost no act inorhodin was produced in sulfate-, phosphate-, potassium-, or magnesi um-limited cultures. The effect of the dilution rate on actinorhodin p roduction was studied in glucose-limited cultures. It was found that q (actinorhodin) was highest at D = 0.06 h(-1), which was well below the maximal D value tested (0.14 h(-1)). This explains why, in batch cult ures, actinorhodin production starts at the onset of the stationary ph ase. It was also found that the use of nitrilotriacetate instead of ci trate as a chelating agent had a negative effect on actinorhodin produ ction. (C) 1997 John Wiley st Sons, Inc.