[Self-assembly of extracellular tubular structures of non-protein nature produced by an actinomycete].

When grown on the solid synthetic medium with glucose as the only carbon source the dedifferentiated "fructose" mutant of Actinomyces roseoflavus var. roseofungini accumulated aggregates of tubular-like structures. The individual tubules had the internal diametre of 80 A and external diametre of approximately 200-220 A. These structures were isolated as a distinct fraction and their non-protein nature was demonstrated. They were easily soluble in acetone and reconstitutable in vitro. The possible significance of production of self-assembling structures by a mutant with impaired differentiation is discussed. The possibility of involvement of self-assembly processes in the formation of surface sheath of aerial mycelium in normally differentiating actinomycetes is mentioned.