Heat treatment of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes leads to aeration dependent accumulation of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate.

2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate (MEC) identified as a new bacterial oxidative stress substance (Ostrovsky D. et al. (1993) Biochem. J., 295, 901-902) was shown to accumulate in Corynebacterium (Brevibacterium) ammoniagenes cells aerobically cultivated in peptone-yeast extract-glucose broth on heating for 1 hour at 45 degrees C. The enzyme(s) responsible for MEC biosynthesis is evidently oxidized for activation and is completely loosing its activity on anaerobic incubation at this temperature in an hour. Salt stress or drying did not provoke the MEC biosynthesis.