[Conditions for porphyrin formation by propionic acid bacteria].

Porphyrin production by seven species of propionic acid bacteria (Propionibacterium shermanii, its mutant P. shermanii M-82, P. technicum, P. vannielii, P. rubrum, P. thoenii and P. jensenii) was being studied. All the bacteria were cultivated on a glucose-peptone medium. A positive correlation between the amount of the produced porphyrins and the vitamin B12-synthetizing activity was observed for the most of species. Exogenous delta-aminolevulinic acid stimulated the porphyrin accumulation, but the degree of its utilisation decreased as its content in the culture medium increased from 5 to 200 mg/l. A maximum synthesis of porphyrins by P. shermanii M-82 (mainly of coproporpyrin III) was observed at definite concentrations of glucose and cobalt salts.