[Study of the relationship of growth and morphological differentiation to antibiotic formation in heliomycin-producing cultures].

Relation between the growth of the heliomycin-producing organisms, biosynthesis of the antibiotic and morphological differentiation of the mycelium was studied. The curves of the culture growth were of diauxic nature. The synthesis of heliomycin was parallel to the organism active growth (trophophase). The antibiotic was synthesized in the germinating spores and localized in the areas of active growth and surface structures. The indicator properties of heliomycin were also evident in the organism mycelium. The antibiotic was registered in the young hyphae mainly in an oxidated form timed to the membrane structures. With the culture development heliomycin accumulated in the mycelium in reduced form together with lipids in the form of granules (vacuole structures). Condensation of heliomycin in the vacuoles (granules) started during the 2nd lag-phase, and may be associated with both heliomycin storing and inclusion of detoxication mechanisms. It was shown that heliomycin was consumed in the culture under conditions of starvation. In this case the antibiotic granules disappeared. The connection between the synthesis of heliomycin and the organism active growth, localization of the antibiotic in the areas of active growth, consumption of the antibiotic under conditions of starvation indicate that heliomycin is important for the organism and participates in the processes of growth and metabolism.