The effects of aeration on glucose catabolism in Penicillium expansum

Polyacrylamide-disc gel electrophoresis and quantitative enzyme assays showed that the pathways of glucose catabolism and secondary metabolism in Penicillium expansum were dependent on the degree of aeration of the cultures. The isoenzyme patterns and specific activities of aldolase and succinate dehydrogenase indicated that glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle operated under conditions of both limited and efficient aeration (i.e. in cultures grown statically or on an orbital shaker). At high levels of aeration the growth rate was faster and synthesis of extracellular pectolytic enzymes was enhanced, whilst the activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase showed that the pentose-phosphate shunt was important in glucose catabolism during the trophophase of growth. In contrast, under conditions of low aeration this latter pathway was virtually undetectable, growth was slower, pectolytic enzyme production low and large concentrations of secondary metabolites (6-methylsalicylic acid, patulin and citrinin) accumulated.