Open AccessPolyamine metabolism in the thermotolerant mesophilic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
Author(s) -
Walters Dale R,
Cowley Tracey,
McPherson Arlene
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12607.x
Subject(s) - aspergillus fumigatus , fungus , mesophile , microbiology and biotechnology , metabolism , aspergillus , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , botany , bacteria , genetics
Biomass production by Aspergillus fumigatus was greatest at 40–45°C and was associated with an increase in concentration of the diamine putrescine and activity of its biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. Concentrations of the other amines, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine were considerably lower than putrescine concentration and did not change significantly over the temperature range 20–50°C. This is surprising in view of the greatly increased flux of label from ornithine through to spermidine at 45 and 50°C, indicating an increased formation of this triamine. It is suggested that there was increased formation of spermidine derivatives at these temperatures. Interestingly, there was greatly increased formation of the higher homologues of cadaverine, aminopropylcadaverine and N,N′‐bis(3‐aminopropyl)cadaverine, in A. fumigatus at 45 and 50°C.