Fungal Cellulases XX. Some Observations on the Induction and Inhibition of the Cellobiase of Stachybotrys Atra

Abstract

The induction of cellobiase in washed suspensions of Stachybotrys atra mycelium harvested during the active phase of growth follows the classical pattern for induced protein synthesis, except that it does not appear to be dependent on continued growth of the organism. At 28°C under aerobic conditions there is no detectable lag period. Inducers are ,B.glucosides of polyhydroxylic aglycones, which may be another sugar residue or a chain of such residues. Such inducers are metabolizable by the mould; after their breakdown the enzyme rapidly disappears from the mycelium. Interference with RNA metabolism and information transfer depresses the induced synthesis of the enzyme; two amino acid analogues, ,B-chloroalanine and p-fiuorophenylalanine, also inhibit this induction. Inhibition is also observed when respirable substances are present, and the inhibitor appears to arise from the metabolism of pyruvate.