[Action of chlortetracycline on the enzymes of the producer itself, Streptomyces aureofaciens].

When preparing a cell-free extract of Streptomyces aureofaciens from the culture to which chlortetracycline (1000 gamma/ml) was added before disintegration with alumina, a considerable decrease in the enzyme activity was reached. The presence of chlortetracycline during disintegration of the cells by means of glass beads did not substantially affect the enzyme activity of the cell-free extract. Addition of chlortetracycline directly to the reaction mixture for the enzyme assay (up to a concentration of 200 gamma/ml) did not induce any inhibition effect. The results suggested that during studying enzyme systems of organisms producing secondary metabolites, the product might distort the results on the use of an inconvenient method.