SEQUENTIAL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SHUNT METABOLISM IN PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM

Penicillium chrysogenum was grown on a rich medium and on a more sparse medium which favored penicillin production. Mycelia grown on both media were examined for changes in lipid, mannitol, erythritol, glycerol, pentitol, trehalose, and residual mycelium, and the filtrates were examined for penicillin. Penicillin production took place after the bulk of trehalose, polyol, and lipid had accumulated, and hence the sequential pattern of primary and secondary shunt metabolism, as observed in the case of ergot alkaloid production by Claviceps purpurea, was demonstrated in this example of penicillin production.