Mycelial differentiation and spore formation by Streptomyces brasiliensis in submerged culture.

Streptomyces brasiliensis ATCC 23727 showed extensive sporulation when cultured in a liquid medium containing galactose and glutamic acid as carbon and nitrogen sources. Sporogenic hyphae formed under these conditions were morphologically similar and developmentally equivalent to aerial hyphae and metamorphosed into chains of spores by following a sequence of ultrastructural changes similar to that observed during growth on solid media. In addition, our electron microscopy study revealed two previously unrecognized aspects of hyphal development in streptomycetes: the formation of sporogenic hyphae was always preceded by changes in the structure of the nucleoid, and the sheath that characteristically covered these hyphae was not deposited coincidently with wall formation in the apical growing portion of the hypha.