Kinetics of Fungal Growth and Phosphatase Formation in Aspergillus nidulans

Abstract

A liquid culture syste is described for growing Aspergillus nidulans in a manner amenable to kinetic studies. Changes in dry weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase activity were followed over a 40-hr interval. In both limiting- and high-phosphate media, the doubling time of DNA during the logarithmic phase was 3.5[plus or minus]0.5 hr. Of the four phosphatases which have been found in this fungus, three were markedly depressed by low levels of inorganic phosphate.