Abstract

Mycelia of Streptomyces viridochromogenes grown under different pH were analysed for the fatty acid composition. The low relative proportion of 12-methyltetradecanoic acid and the high relative proportion of palmitic acid were characteristic for the young culture under slight acidic pH that caused delay of the aerial mycelium formation. The addition of L-arginine to the culture medium enabled an arginine auxotroph with bald phenotype to have the fatty acid composition similar to that of the wild type and to develop aerial mycelium. The ratio of 12-methyltetradecanoic acid to palmitic acid might be used as a parameter to explain the optimum growth in the respect of membrane fluidity.

• Keywords: Streptomyces viridochromogenes; fatty acids; pH; L-arginine