Effect of growth rate and aeration on the production of microcin by Escherichia coli growing in continuous culture.

The production of microcin 15, a low molecular weight antibiotic, resistant to proteases and antagonized by methionine, was measured in batch and continuous cultures of E. coli LP 136. The highest yield per cell was obtained in conditions (anaerobiosis, low glucose concentration, low growth rate) similar to those found in the intestinal tract. It is postulated that microcin production may be an important factor in growth competition between enterobacteria in the intestinal tract.