Studies in the biochemistry of micro-organisms. 110. Production and biosynthesis of orsellinic acid by Penicillium madriti G. Smith

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Abstract
P. madriti G. Smith strain BB389A, when grown on Czapek-Dox glucose medium, produces orsellinic acid and penicillic acid. When sodium [1-C14] acetate was added to the culture medium the orsellinic acid produced was shown by degradation to be labelled equally on 4 of the 8 C atoms, a phenomenon consistent with its production from 4 acetate units linked head-to-tail. When sodium [1-C14]butyrate was used as precursor, the resulting orsellinic acid was labelled. The carboxyl group had 1/4 of the total activity. This indicates breakdown of the butyrate to 2 C2 units before incorporation and precludes utilization of the intact C4 chain. When labelled orsellinic acid was presented to the mold, the labelling of the penicillic acid was consistent with the direct conversion of orsellinic acid into penicillic acid with elimination of the carboxyl C.