CYTOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MALATE DEHYDROGENASE IN GROWING HYPHAE OF ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE

Abstract

Localizations of malate, succinate, and alcohol dehydrogenases in the hyphae of Aspergillus oryzae were examined by a cytochemical test. These enzymes were uniformly distributed in young substrate mycelium, whereas in the conidiophore they were heavily concentrated in the apical vesicle. Malate dehydrogenases of mitochondrial and soluble fractions showed the highest activity at a growth zone where the conidiophores and aerial mycelia are formed. Isoenzyme pattern of malate dehydrogenase, as examined electrophoretically, varied characteristically depending on the hyphal age and developmental stage.