[The role of succinic acid in the biosynthesis of levorin].

The influence of succinic acid as a component of media for biosynthesis of levorin, a polyenic antibiotic was studied. It was shown that with the use of the soybean-corn medium supplemented with succinic acid (0.05-0.4 per cent) the antibiotic content in the fermentation broth was higher than that in the control. The highest stimulating effect (135 per cent) was observed with addition of 0.1 per cent of succinic acid. For providing optimal antibiotic production in the synthetic medium supplemented with succinic acid (0.4 per cent) addition of acetic acid (0.05 per cent) was required. Studies with the soybean-corn medium with and without succinic acid revealed differences in the level of p-aminoacetophenone, an aromatic fragment of the levorin molecule. Under the conditions of the medium with succinic acid the content of p-aminoacetophenone in the mycelium was higher by 10 to 18 per cent as compared to that in the control and depended on the fermentation period. The role of succinic acid in biosynthesis of levorin is discussed.