Exogenous shikimic acid stimulates rapamycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces hygroscopicus

Abstract

A chemically defined medium was developed which satisfies the nutritional needs of the Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain producing the immunosuppressant rapamycin. More than a doubling of rapamycin biosynthesis was observed on addition of 57 mmol/L of exogenous shikimate. The previously observed inhibition of the synthesis by phenylalanine was not reversed by shikimate.