There was a remarkable decrease in the number of bacteriophage NJL adsorbed to the cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous CF222 grown in the presence of penicillin G as compared with that to the cells grown in the absence of the drug. However, no differences in quantity and quality of the bacteriophage NJL receptor (NRS) were detected between the cells grown in the absence and presence of penicillin G. Its presence during the cultivation increased phospholipid content of the cells and changed the ratios among phospholipids, i.e. phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol. Phospholipase C treatment restored the bacteriophage- binding activity of the cells grown in the presence of penicillin G. Penicillin G might cause changes in the cell surface, not in NRS, that result in decreased bacteriophage adsorption. The increase in phospholipid of bacterial cells seemed to be a strong candidate for such changes.

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We have cloned and sequenced apoprotein genes for chromoprotein antibiotics; neocarzinostatin, macromomycin, actinoxanthin and C-1027. Here we show the homology between these genes in comparison with that between genomes of the corresponding antibiotic producers, evaluate the classical taxonomy based on phenotypic features of producer strains, and discuss the origin of the apoprotein genes.

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