Penicillin Amidohydrolases in Fungal Autolysis

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Abstract
The production of penicillin G and penicillin V amidohydrolases or acylases (E.C. 3.5.1.11) was studied during the autolysis of filamentous fungi in a mineral medium, and in the same medium with phenoxyacetic acid as inducer. In all the studied fungi, enzymes showing penicillin G and penicillin V amidohydrolase activities were found. Generally, an increase of these activities during fungal autolysis was observed. The presence of phenoxyacetic acid in the medium did not increase these activities. The activities found in the culture fluids were generally higher than that found in the mycelial extractgs. Under these conditions, .beta.-lactamases (penicillinases) were not found. The fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium oxalicum, and the species Penicillium 222 were chosen to study pencillin G and penicillin V acylases. The enzymes were precipitated with tannic acid from the culture fluid of their autolyzed cultures. Some kinetics constants of these activities were determined.