Biomaterial Database

Production of alkaloids and differentiation in a submerged culture of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul. 1975

Z Rehácek, and J Kozová

The submerged culture of the Claviceps purpurea strain studied was polymorphous. In the process of alkaloid synthesis, cytodifferentiation preceded biochemical differentiation. The onset of the alkaloid phase was characterized by: predominance of chlamydospores in the culture, the presence of vegetative cells with reduced or arrested proliferation, maximum acetylCoA carboxylase activity, the maximum amount of total fatty acids, an over-average cell pool tryptophan level and minimum tryptophan synthetase activity. Intracellular ricinoleic acid was an indicator of differentiation of the culture towards alkaloid formation and also of alkaloid synthesis. The cytodifferentiation period in the initial phases of fermentation, when the cell has several alternative possibilities of development, is regarded as the most sensitive sector of the regulatory mechanisms of alkaloid formation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002967	Claviceps	A genus of ascomycetous fungi, family Clavicipitaceae, order Hypocreales, parasitic on various grasses (POACEAE). The sclerotia contain several toxic alkaloids. Claviceps purpurea on rye causes ERGOTISM.	Ergot Fungus,Claviceps purpurea,Sphacelia segetum,Fungus, Ergot
D004876	Ergot Alkaloids	Alkaloids originally isolated from the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea (Hypocreaceae). They include compounds that are structurally related to ergoline (ERGOLINES) and ergotamine (ERGOTAMINES). Many of the ergot alkaloids act as alpha-adrenergic antagonists.	Clavine Alkaloids,Alkaloids, Clavine,Alkaloids, Ergot
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D005285	Fermentation	Anaerobic degradation of GLUCOSE or other organic nutrients to gain energy in the form of ATP. End products vary depending on organisms, substrates, and enzymatic pathways. Common fermentation products include ETHANOL and LACTIC ACID.	Fermentations
D000103	Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase	A carboxylating enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of ATP, acetyl-CoA, and HCO3- to ADP, orthophosphate, and malonyl-CoA. It is a biotinyl-protein that also catalyzes transcarboxylation. The plant enzyme also carboxylates propanoyl-CoA and butanoyl-CoA (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 6.4.1.2.	Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase,Acetyl CoA Carboxylase,Carboxylase, Acetyl-CoA
D012277	Ricinoleic Acids	Eighteen carbon fatty acids that comprise the great majority of CASTOR OIL, which is from the seed of RICINUS.	Oleic Acids, 12-hydroxy,12-hydroxy Oleic Acids,Acids, 12-hydroxy Oleic,Acids, Ricinoleic,Oleic Acids, 12 hydroxy
D013172	Spores, Fungal	Reproductive bodies produced by fungi.	Conidia,Fungal Spores,Conidium,Fungal Spore,Spore, Fungal
D014364	Tryptophan	An essential amino acid that is necessary for normal growth in infants and for NITROGEN balance in adults. It is a precursor of INDOLE ALKALOIDS in plants. It is a precursor of SEROTONIN (hence its use as an antidepressant and sleep aid). It can be a precursor to NIACIN, albeit inefficiently, in mammals.	Ardeydorm,Ardeytropin,L-Tryptophan,L-Tryptophan-ratiopharm,Levotryptophan,Lyphan,Naturruhe,Optimax,PMS-Tryptophan,Trofan,Tryptacin,Tryptan,Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations,ratio-Tryptophan,L Tryptophan,L Tryptophan ratiopharm,PMS Tryptophan,ratio Tryptophan
D014367	Tryptophan Synthase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-serine and 1-(indol-3-yl)glycerol 3-phosphate to L-tryptophan and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. It is a pyridoxal phosphate protein that also catalyzes the conversion of serine and indole into tryptophan and water and of indoleglycerol phosphate into indole and glyceraldehyde phosphate. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 4.2.1.20.	Tryptophan Synthetase,Synthase, Tryptophan,Synthetase, Tryptophan