Modification of sexual development and carotene production by acetate and other small carboxylic acids in Blakeslea trispora and Phycomyces blakesleeanus.

ABSTRACT: In Phycomyces blakesleeanus and Blakeslea trispora (order Mucorales, class Zygomycetes), sexual interaction on solid substrates leads to zygospore development and to increased carotene production (sexual carotenogenesis). Addition of small quantities of acetate, propionate, lactate, or leucine to mated cultures on minimal medium stimulated zygospore production and inhibited sexual carotenogenesis in both Phycomyces and Blakeslea. In Blakeslea, the threshold acetate concentration was <1 mmol/liter for both effects, and the concentrations that had one-half of the maximal effect were <2 mmol/liter for carotenogenesis and >7 mmol/liter for zygosporogenesis. The effects on Phycomyces were similar, but the concentrations of acetate had to be multiplied by ca. 3 to obtain the same results. Inhibi

SUBMITTER: Kuzina V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1489343 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature