The effect of space flight on the production of actinomycin
D by Streptomyces plicatus.
J Ind
Microbiol Biotechnol 2002 Dec;29(6):299-302
Lam KS, Gustavson DR, Pirnik DL, Pack E, Bulanhagui C, Mamber SW, Forenza
S, Stodieck LS, Klaus DM.
Natural Products Research, Lead Discovery Department, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Company, PO Box 5100, Wallingford, CT 06492, USA.
The effect of space flight on production of the antibiotic actinomycin D by
Streptomyces plicatus WC56452 was examined onboard the US Space Shuttle
mission STS-80. Paired space flight and ground control samples were similarly
prepared using identical hardware, media, and inoculum. The cultures were
grown in defined and complex media under dark, anaerobic, thermally controlled
(20 degrees C) conditions with samples fixed after 7 and 12 days in orbit, and
viable residuals maintained through landing at 17 days, 15 h. Postflight
analyses indicated that space flight had reduced the colony-forming unit (CFU)
per milliliter count of S. plicatus and increased the specific productivity
(pg CFU(-1)) of actinomycin D. The antibiotic compound itself was not
affected, but its production time course was altered in space. Viable flight
samples also maintained their sporulation ability when plated on agar medium
postflight, while the residual ground controls did not sporulate.
doi:10.1038/sj.jim.7000312
