Studies on lipopeptide biosynthesis by Bacillus subtilis: isolation and characterization of iturin-, surfactin+ mutants.

Two mutant strains, M35 and M89, were obtained by UV irradiation from a wild-type Bacillus subtilis producing iturin and surfactin. Sporulation and surfactin production were similar in both mutants and in the parent strain, while the iturin production of M35 was 300-fold less than that of the wild-type strain; M89 did not produce any iturin. The analysis of the incorporation of sodium [1-14C]acetate into cellular lipids and lipopeptides showed that M89 still synthesized beta-amino fatty acids, the lipid moiety of iturin.