Partial characterization of the mode of action of benzoic acid on aflatoxin biosynthesis

Aflatoxin production by a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus was greatly reduced by benzoic acid and sodium benzoate in synthetic media. The reduction was accompanied by the appearance of a yellow pigment. Spectral analyses partially characterized this pigment as closely related to an acetyl derivative of a versiconal-type compound. A cell-free extract prepared from A. flavus grown in synthetic media was active in converting this yellow compound into aflatoxin B1 in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate at 25 degrees C (pH 7.4). In the presence of benzoic acid and its salt or autoclaved cell-free extract, conversion of yellow compound to aflatoxin B1 was prevented. These results suggest that the yellow compound is an intermediate in the secondary metabolic cycle involved in aflatoxin B1 production. Benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, or autoclaving the cell-free extract appear to have respectively blocked or denatured an enzymatic step late in the biosynthetic pathway of aflatoxin B1.