Respiration in Organic Acid-Forming Molds

Part II. Influence of the Cultural Condition on the Levels of Cytochrome c, Flavins and Coenzyme Q in Rhizopus oryzae

Abstract

Rhizopus oryzae at an early growth stage in shake culture produced almost no lactate. At this stage, the mycelia were rich in cytochrome c and FAD. On the contrary, those of later growth stages fermented a larger amount of the glucose to lactate and the contents of cytochrome c and FAD were lower than in the young mycelia.
Surface cultures produced lactate at a rate very nearly equivalent to the rate of glucose consumption. Addition of zinc to the medium resulted in decreased lactate production, but no increase was observed in the mycelial content of either cytochrome c or FAD in this case. On the other hand, increased quantities of FMN were found in mycelia from shake or surface cultures when zinc was added.