Cycloheximide production by Streptomyces griseus: control mechanisms of cycloheximide biosynthesis.

Cycloheximide accumulation in a fermentation medium has been shown to be the product of the balance between synthesis and degradation of this antibiotic. Glucose has been shown to prevent cycloheximide degradation. Cycloheximide has been shown to interfere with its own synthesis probably due to feedback inhibition. Approaches for increasing cycloheximide titers in the light of these findings are discussed.