Chlamydospore-like Cell-inducing Substances of Fungi: Close Correlation between Chemical Reactivity with Methylamine and Biological Activity

Abstract

Lunatoic acid A and (–)-mitorubrinic acid have been isolated as chlamydospore-like cell-inducing substances from Cochliobolus lunatus. (+)-Sclerotiorin, (+)-rotiorin, citrinin and sclerin were shown to have the same activity. Although they share no common structural feature, all these active substances react with methylamine. The reaction products do not have this activity. The reaction curves showed a positive correlation between the chemical reactivity of chlamydospore-like cell-inducing substances with methylamine and their biological activities.