Metabolism of Sucrose and Related Oligosaccharides by Spores of the Fungus Myrothecium Verrucaria.

Abstract

Respiration, assimilation and carbohydrase activity of M. verrucaria spores on sucrose, raffinose, melezitose and turanose have been studied. A fructo-invertase is present in excess of metabolic requirements, yet sucrose is metabolized by an unknown nonhydrolytic system as evidenced by: (1) equality of invertase activity in dead and metabolizing cells; (2) higher metabolism on sucrose than on glucose-fructose mixtures; (3) inactivation of the invertase without greatly interfering with sucrose metabolism; (4) suppres-lon of sucrose respiration by arsenate or glucose to the level found on glucose-fructose mixtures. Attempts to demonstrate sucrose phosphorylase activity were unsuccessful. Evidence indicates that raffinose is metabolized via invertase. Melezitose and turanose are not hydrolized and hence appear to be metabolized by a nonhydrolytic system.