Pjizer a?zd Co., Inc.. Brooklyn, N e w York Suw~77~ury. Production of oligomycin has been studied in fermentations ranging from 100 ml in shaken flasks to 1000 gal in agitated and aerated tanks.
The main factor favouring the production of oligomycin was a medium giving good growth and supplying an abundance of slowly utilized energy. Media meeting these requirements contained yeast extract and/or molasses for growth and lard oil for energy. Glycerol, glucose or starch as the main source of carbon gave poor results. A pH close to 7 favoured oligomycin production. Considerable organic nitrogen was synthesized and excreted by the mycelium during oligomycin production.
Under suitable conditions practically all of the oligomycin remained in the mycelium. Extraction of the mycelium with acetone, concentration of the extract, removal of oily material with a low-boiling hydrocarbon, decolourization and final crystallization from methanol or ethanol were the main steps in the recovery process. From pilot plant and tank fermentations about 4500 g of crystalline oligomycin have been prepared.
Three oligomycins, A, B and C were found by paper chromatography in even well-crystallized oligomycin. In different lots the proportions varied from 10-75 per cent A, 4-90 per cent B and 0-36 per cent C. High yields and high percentages of A and C were obtained on the neutral, lard-oil medium. Low yields and high proportions of B were given by the glycerol, low-pH medium.
The yields ranged from nothing to 3675 pg per nil.