Abstract
Among various nutritional mutants with weak 5′-nucleotidase derived from Bacillus subtilis IAM 1145, the adenine-requiring mutants could convert exogenously added hypo- xanthine, guanine, xanthine and their ribosides to 5′-inosinic acid (IMP) and accumulate it in the medium. Synthesis of IMP from purine derivatives was observed predominantly in an early stage of the cultivation. The conversion was stimulated by Fe2+ or Mn2+, and markedly depressed by an excess amount of adenine in the production-medium.