Abstract

Biogenesis of Antibiotic Substances covers the proceedings of a panel discussion on ""Basic Research and Practical Aspects of Antibiotic Production"" held during the Antibiotic Congress in Prague. This book is organized into 25 chapters that cover the regulating mechanisms of primary antibiotic metabolite biosynthesis. This text describes the relationship between secondary metabolite production and synthesis of cell matter or cell wall.
The opening chapters describe the parasexual cycle and some of the ways in which the cycle may be used for strain improvement, as well as the applications of refined techniques of genetic recombination and the principles of biochemical genetics to the field of antibiotics. The next chapter deals with cultural and fermentative characteristics of A-type isolates obtained from progenitor and representative member strains of the Wisconsin Family of Strains of Penicillium chrysogenum. Considerable chapters are devoted to the metabolite biosynthesis, such as geodoxin and related compounds; secondary metabolism of penicillins, gibberellins, and griseofulvin in fungi; and tetracycline metabolites. The book goes on examining the stereochemical aspects of macrolide antibiotics. It also describes the biosynthetic pathways involving ring cleavage of carbocyclic compounds, as well as the biosynthesis of different peptide antibiotics and of actinomycins and its relationship to protein synthesis. The production of phenazines is also explained. Other chapters consider other metabolites, such as those that decarboxylate, the malonate, and the 3-nitropropionic acid. A discussion on the role of carbohydrates and phosphate in the biosynthesis of different types of antibiotics is included. Lastly, microbiological assay procedures for antibiotic research and influencing factors are presented.