[Production of biologically active compounds by S, R and M forms of Mycobacterium lacticolum on a medium with n-hexadecane].

The rate of growth and production of exopolysaccharides, vitamin B2 and cetyl alcohol by different clones of S, R and M variants of Mycobacterium lacticolum 104 was studied on a medium containing n-hexadecane. A constant correlation was found to exist between the shape of the colony and the physiologo-biochemical characteristics of the bacterium. The cells of R variant had the highest growth rate, the cells of M variant, the lowest. The cell suspension of M form accumulated 0.1 mg of cetyl alcohol per 1 mg of protein during four hours; S and R forms accumulated 1.5 times less of this substance during the same time. The highest amount of flavins (2.4 mg/litre) was synthesized by the clones of S variant, the lowest amount of flavins was produced by the clones of M form. The cells of M form synthesized 4 g/litre of polysaccharides, the cells of S and R forms produced by 70 and 170% less, respectively.