The metabolism of 6-aminopenicillanic acid and related compounds by Penicillium chrysogenum and its possible significance for penicillin biosynthesis

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Abstract
The mycelium of P. chrysogenum WIS 51-20 F3 and the culture medium contain substances (phenylacetyl chloride-reacting substances) which give rise to enhanced antibiotic activity on acylation with phenylacetyl or phenoxyacetyl chloride. One of these compounds appears to be identical with 6-aminopenicillanic acid. The biosynthesis of pheny- lacetyl chloride-reacting substances has been studied with cultures or washed mycelium of P. chrysogenum. Mycelia from cultures to which phenylacetate had been added contained little or no phenylacetyl chloride-reacting substances. Incubation of washed mycelium in the presence of phenylacetate resulted in a greater decrease in mycelial phenylacetyl chloride-reacting substances than was found in the absence of phenylacetate. No quantitative correlation was found, however between the increased penicillin production resulting from the addition of phenylacetate and the decrease in phenylacetyl chloride-reacting substances. The metabolic inter-relationship between 6-aminopenicillanic acid and penicillin is discussed.