CATALASE INHIBITION AS A POSSIBLE MECHANISM OF THE FUNGISTATIC ACTION OF SORBIC ACID

Abstract

The fungistat, sorbic acid, has been shown to inhibit the activity of catalase. This inhibition is related to sorbic acid concentration, pH of the system, and length of time that the catalase was exposed to the acid. Both mold and mammalian catalases are inhibited, and mammalian catalase is shown to reverse the inhibitory effect of sorbic acid on molds. The rates of oxygen uptake by germinated and ungerminated spores have been compared in the presence and absence of sorbic acid, and it has been shown that sorbic acid exerts its most profound effect on spore germination. The possible significance of the auto-oxidative breakdown of sorbic acid is discussed.