Growth and production of anthracyclines in wild-type and mutant strains of Streptomyces galilaeus.

The course of growth curves with respect to the biosynthesis of anthracyclines was followed in the wild low-producing strain Streptomyces galilaeus JA 3043 and in its mutants G-167 (producing increased quantities of glycosides of epsilon-pyrromycinone) and J-14 (accumulating free epsilon-pyrromycinone). A two-phase type of fermentation (growth phase, production phase) was observed in strains JA 3043 and J-14. The maximum production of anthracyclines occurred only after the end of intense growth of the culture. Two phases of rapid growth separated by a phase of stagnation were observed in strain G-167. The second growth phase proceeded only during late hours of cultivation and was (as compared with the first phase) associated with an intensive biosynthesis of anthracyclines.