STUDIES ON A NEUROSPORA MUTANT REQUIRING UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS FOR GROWTH

Abstract

A Neurospora mutant, which required for growth either oleic acid, linoleic acid, or linolenic acid, was isolated by a new selection technique. It did not grow when supplied with saturated fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acids that made growth possible had an inhibitory effect on growth, the amt. of inhibition varying directly with the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids. The inhibition was partially relieved by the synthetic detergent, Tween 60. The growth studies were consistent with the view that linoleic acid was synthesized from oleic acid and that linolenic acid was synthesized from linoleic acid. In the mutant studied, the metabolic block occurred before the synthesis of oleic acid.