Synthesis of Pantoic Acid and Its Congeners by Neurospora

Abstract

Summary

1. Synthesis of pantothenic acid and related compounds by wild type Neurospora crassa and a pantothenicless mutant of this organism, 5531 A, was compared by growing these organisms for 4-8 days and determining the substances produced in the culture filtrates by microbiological and chromatographic methods. Culture nitrates of wild type Neurospora at 4 days contained principally coenzyme A; on longer incubation the coenzyme A decreased while the pantothenic acid and pantetheine (LBF) in the medium increased. Little or no pantoic acid was present. Culture filtrates of the pantothenicless mutant contained substantial amounts of pantoic acid which arose by synthesis; no synthesis of pantothenic acid or coenzyme A was observed when the culture was grown with minimal amounts of pantothenic acid. When larger amounts of pantothenic acid were added, small amounts of coenzyme A were detected in the culture filtrate. 2. Of the compounds so far implicated as intermediates in synthesis of coenzyme A, only pantothenic acid supports growth of this pantothenicless mutant.