Studies in penicillin production by Penicillium notatum in surface culture. 2. Further studies in the metabolism of sulphur

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Abstract
The growth of normal and mutant strains of P. notatum on different S sources was studied, and the metabolism of some of them followed analytically. Normal strains can utilize many inorganic substances, such as sulfate, sulfite, hyposulfite and thiosulfate, as well as other compounds, and high yields of penicillin and mycelium can be obtained with a considerable variety of S sources. Two mutant strains which were unable to grow on sulfate, "cyclic" choline sulfate, Na acetone bisulfite, sulfite, or sulfamate grew well on other S compounds such as cystine, thiosulfate or hyposulfite. When mixed the 2 mutant strains could be grown together on a medium containing sulfate as sole S source. Isolates from the mixed colonies produced "sectored" colonies on malt medium, and from the sectors strains similar to the originals were isolated. With the normal strains the utilization of S, through the reduction of sulfate or disappearance of cystine, is mainly linked with the formation of mycelium. Only with certain media do non-sulfate compounds accumulate in the medium. Ethereal sulfate was detected in the mycelium. The metabolic route for S by P. notatum appears to be similar to that used by Aspergillus niger. namely that inorganic S compounds are incorporated into the molecule via a chain of reduced thio acids. The 2 molds react differently to the presence of ammonia or nitrate in the medium.

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