Biosynthesis of Streptomycin

Investigation was carried out on demonstration of two substances constructing a precursor system located at a late stage of streptomycin biosynthesis by Streptomyces griseus. One of them is thought to be a natural precursor of Streptomycin(L) and the other is suggested as an enzymatic substance(H) transforming L to streptomycin. Both substances had no antibiotic potency and H was inactivated at low pH. L was obtained from a cell-free supernatant (active supernatant) prepared from suspension of young mycelium of Streptomyces griseus in glucose solution. H was obtained not only from active supernatant but also from cell-free extract of the organism.Two ways of isolation were established for L. Active supernatant was adsorbed on a CM-cellulose column equilibrated with 0.05 m Tris-maleate buffer (pH 8.0). Elution of this column with the same buffer as was used for equilibration gave L-containing fraction separated from streptomycin which was eluted with the buffer including 1% of sodium chloride. L was adsorb...