Preparation of ¹⁴C-Labeled Penicillic Acid with High Specific Activity and Yield

¹⁴C-Labeled penicillic acid was produced by stationary culture incubation of Penicillium cyclopium (NRRL 1888) on a modified Raulin-Thom broth medium containing ¹⁴C-labeled acetate. Approximately 1.2 g of radioactive compound, with a specific activity of 23.0 μCi/mmole, was produced in 9 days in 1500 ml of the broth. Incorporation of the isotope into penicillic acid was 11. 9%. Production of the radiolabeled compound with high specific activity was achieved by correlating the monitoring of expired ¹⁴C-CO₂ with production of penicillic acid during the fermentation. The effects of various growth substrates, pH, and incubation times on production of non-labeled penicillic acid also were investigated. Results show that sterile rice is an excellent substrate, that among liquid media examined, higher yields were obtained in stationary rather than in shake cultures, and that higher yields of penicillic acid were obtained at pH 3.5 or lower. Simultaneous monitoring of penicillic acid production and ¹⁴C-label incorporation is essential to detect and isolate a high yield of labeled compound with high specific activity.