MECHANISM OF BIOSYNTHESIS OF MYCELIAL GLUCOSAN FROM PENTOSES BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER

Abstract
The biosynthesis of mycelial glucosan from glucose-1-C14, xylose-1-C14 , and ribose-1-C14 by Aspergillus niger was studied. The results indicate that the pentoses were converted to glucose via transketolase, transaldolase, and isomerase reactions, followed by polymerization to form mycelial glucosan. The difference in labeling of glucose from ribose as compared with xylose suggests that D-arabitol may be involved as an intermediate in ribose metabolism.