BIOAUTOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON THE LACTOBACILLUS BULGARICUS FACTORS

Abstract

The multiple nature of the L. bulgaricus factor (LBF) was demonstrated by paper chromatography and bioautographic technics. It exists in at least 7 forms in Bacillus megatherium (B-938) culture filtrate, and in 6 forms in Ashbya gossypii (NRRL-1056) culture filtrate. By chromatographing Ca-panto-thenate along with the culture filtrates and developing the strip with organisms requiring pantothenate for growth, one of the forms of LBF, Rf0.5, has been shown to exist as free pantothenate. Coenzyme A gave an LBF response after digestion with alkaline intestinal phosphatase, the digest with the bioautographic technic giving 3 areas of growth with Rf values of 0.03, 0.12, and 0.75.