Studies in the biochemistry of micro-organisms

Abstract

Penicillium charlesii, isolated from mouldy Italian maize, produces from glucose carlic acid, C10H10O6, m.p. 176[degree] and carlosic acid, C10H12O6, m.p. 181[degree]. Carlic acid in water titrates as a dibasic acid but contains in dry pyridine 2 active H atoms and in dry anisole none. Carlosic acid titrates in water as a dibasic acid and in dry anisole at 18[degree] contains 2.1 active H atoms. On acid hydrolysis, carlic acid (1 mol.) gave 1 molecule acetoin, 1 molecule butyro-lactone and 2 molecules C02 (one readily, the other slowly) whilst carlosic acid gives 1 molecule each of acetoin and n-butyric acid with 2 molecules CO2 (1 readily, 1 slowly).