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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1971 July; 22(1): 6-10
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Antibiotic Synthesis and Morphological Differentiation of Cephalosporium acremonium

Antibiotic Manufacturing and Development Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

ABSTRACT

In submerged cultures, Cephalosporium acremonium exists in four morphological forms: hyphae, arthrospores, conidia, and germlings. The phase of hyphal differentiation into arthrospores coincides with the maximum rate of ß-lactam antibiotic synthesis. Furthermore, arthrospores, separated by density-gradient centrifugation, possess 40% greater antibiotic-producing activity than any other morphological cell type. In a series of mutants, each with an increased potential to produce ß-lactam antibiotics, differentiation into arthrospores was proportional to the increased titer of these antibiotics. Thus, arthrospores exhibit enhanced synthesis of ß-lactam antibiotics and appear to be a determining factor in high-yielding mutants. Since a non-antibiotic-producing mutant readily differentiated into arthrospores, antibiotic synthesis and cellular differentiation are not obligately related.