Application of Chromatography. XXXV. On the Biochemical Significance of 6-Methyl-7-hydroxyribolumazine in the Culture of Eremothecium ashbyii.

Abstract

When Er. ashbyii was cultivated, pyruvic acid (V) was detected in the mycelium as well as in the broth. Addition of (V) in the cultivation medium, however, checked the formation of riboflavin (IV) and increased the production of 6-methyl-7-hydroxyribolumazine (VI). Formation of (VI) seems to be due to the reaction of (V) with 4-ribitylamino-5-aminouracil which is assumed to be an intermediate of (IV). Er. ashbyii was cultivated in the basic medium, and determination was conducted on the (IV), (VI), and 6, 7-dimethylribolumazine (III) in the samples collected at regular intervals. As a result, it was found that (III) was produced in a very small quantity, compared with (IV), and (VI) in a rather large quantity. This result is well explained by assuming that (IV) is formed through (III), and (VI) is a final product in this metabolism.