Antibiotic production by defective cytoplasmic membrane mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

Eleven defective cytoplasmic membrane mutants of Bacillus subtilis were isolated. Their respective protoplasts presented different lytic behaviour when exposed to decreased concentrations of sucrose. Some relationship was found between the fragility of the protoplasts and the capacity of the mutants to produce antibiotic or to sporulate. The higher the fragility the lesser the capacity to produce antibiotic. The same applies to their amino acids requirements.