MECHANISM OF BIOSYNTHESIS OF MYCELIAL GLUCOSAN FROM PENTOSES BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER

Abstract
The biosynthesis of mycelial glucosan from glucose-1-C14, xylose-1-C14, and ribose-1-C14 by Aspergillus niger was studied. The results indicate that the pentoses were converted to glucose via transketolase, transaldolase, and iso-merase reactions, followed by polymerization to form mycelial glucosan. The difference in labeling of glucose from ribose as compared with xylose suggests that D-arabitol may be involved as an intermediate in ribose metabolism.