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Selective action of mycobacillin on the cellular permeability of Aspergillus niger

S K Das, S Majumdar, S Basu

    The Journal of Antibiotics
    |April 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Aspergillus niger cells release specific compounds like lysine and ATP. The compound mycobacillin increases this release without damaging the cells.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Aspergillus niger is a fungus with known cellular processes.
    • Specific cell constituents are released by A. niger under normal conditions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of mycobacillin on the release of specific cell constituents from Aspergillus niger.
    • To determine the influence of mycobacillin concentration and time on the release of these materials.

    Main Methods:

    • Culturing Aspergillus niger cells.
    • Treating cells with varying concentrations and durations of mycobacillin.
    • Quantifying the release of specific cell constituents (lysine, proline, ATP, Pi, Na+, K+, Ca2+).

    Main Results:

    • A. niger cells naturally release specific constituents like lysine, proline, ATP, Pi, Na+, K+, and Ca2+.
    • Mycobacillin significantly enhances the release of these constituents.
    • The enhancement of release by mycobacillin occurs without causing cell lysis.
    • Optimal release depends on both the concentration and duration of mycobacillin exposure, varying with the specific constituent.

    Conclusions:

    • Mycobacillin acts as a modulator of cell permeability in A. niger, facilitating the release of intracellular components.
    • The study highlights a potential mechanism for controlling the export of valuable biomolecules from fungal cells.
    • Further research can explore the precise molecular interactions between mycobacillin and the A. niger cell membrane.

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