Effect of Zinc on Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates and Enzymes in Relation to Aflatoxin Biosynthesis

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Abstract
The stimulatory action of Zn on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL3240 was investigated by studying the levels of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and related enzymes in the fungal mycelium. During the stationary phase of growth, the levels of .alpha.-keto acids declined in Zn-sufficient cultures compared with those in Zn-deficient cultures. TCA cycle enzymes did not show any significant changes due to Zn availability. In Zn-deficient cultures, enzymes of the TCA cycle had maximum activity on the 4th day, after which their activity declined. In Zn-sufficient cultures, some enzymes showed maximum activity on the 4th day, others on the 2nd day.