Formation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid, penicillins, and penicillin acylase by various fungi. 1966

M Cole

Several penicillin-producing fungi were examined for ability to produce 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and penicillin acylase. 6-APA was found in corn steep liquor fermentations of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus ochraceous, and three strains of Penicillium sp. 6-APA was not detected in fermentations of Epidermophyton floccosum although penicillins were produced. 6-APA formed a large part of the total antibiotic production of T. mentagrophytes. The types of penicillins produced by various fungi were identified by paper chromatography, and it was found that all cultures produced benzylpenicillin. T. mentagrophytes and A. ochraceous showed increased yields of benzylpenicillin and the formation of phenoxymethylpenicillin in response to the addition to the fermentation medium of phenylacetic acid and phenoxyacetic acid, respectively. Washed mycelia of the three Penicillium spp. and two high penicillin-yielding strains of P. chrysogenum possessed penicillin acylase activity against phenoxymethylpenicillin. A. ochraceous, T. mentagrophytes, E. floccosum, and Cephalosporium sp. also had penicillin acylase activity against phenoxymethylpenicillin. Only two of the above fungi, T. mentagrophytes and E. floccosum, showed significant penicillin acylase activity against benzylpenicillin; in both cases it was very low. The acylase activity of A. ochraceous was considerably increased by culturing in the presence of phenoxyacetic acid. It is concluded that 6-APA frequently but not invariably accompanies the formation of penicillin, and that penicillin acylase activity against phenoxymethylpenicillin is present in all penicillin-producing fungi.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010406 Penicillins A group of antibiotics that contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid with a side chain attached to the 6-amino group. The penicillin nucleus is the chief structural requirement for biological activity. The side-chain structure determines many of the antibacterial and pharmacological characteristics. (Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1065) Antibiotics, Penicillin,Penicillin,Penicillin Antibiotics
D010407 Penicillium A mitosporic Trichocomaceae fungal genus that develops fruiting organs resembling a broom. When identified, teleomorphs include EUPENICILLIUM and TALAROMYCES. Several species (but especially PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM) are sources of the antibiotic penicillin. Penicilliums
D004821 Epidermophyton A fungal genus which grows in the epidermis and is the cause of TINEA. Epidermophytons
D005658 Fungi A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies. Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D000164 Acremonium A mitosporic fungal genus with many reported ascomycetous teleomorphs. Cephalosporin antibiotics are derived from this genus. Cephalosporium,Acremoniums,Cephalosporiums
D001230 Aspergillus A genus of mitosporic fungi containing about 100 species and eleven different teleomorphs in the family Trichocomaceae.
D014249 Trichophyton A mitosporic fungal genus and an anamorphic form of Arthroderma. Various species attack the skin, nails, and hair. Endodermophyton,Trychophyton,Endodermophytons,Trichophytons,Trychophytons

Related Publications

M Cole
January 1978, Hindustan antibiotics bulletin,
M Cole
August 1961, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences,
M Cole
September 2007, Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS,
M Cole
August 1961, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences,
M Cole
August 1966, The Journal of organic chemistry,
M Cole
April 1968, Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
Copied contents to your clipboard!