Growth and antifungal homoazasterol production in Geotrichum flavo-brunneum

The growth cycle and production of 15-aza-24-methylene-8, 14-cholestadiene-3 beta-ol (15-azasterol) in Geotrichum flavo-brunneum strain NRRL28804 have been studied. During the growth cycle of this organism, morphological changes were noted which corresponded to changes in the pH of the culture medium. A physiological shift from acid to base production also occurred during the growth cycle. Concomitant with this physiological shift was the synthesis of 15-azasterol. Upon synthesis of this azasterol, variations in the sterol pool were observed. These variations are identical to sterol alterations in susceptible yeast cells exposed to this drug (P. R. Hays, W. D. Neal, and L. W. Parks, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 12: 185-191, 1977.) It appears that NRRL28804 avoids growth inhibition from 15-azasterol by confining its production to late in the growth cycle.