On the Biosynthesis of Gibberellins from Carbon-14-Substrates by Fusarium Moniliforme

SUMMARY

Conditions are described under which C¹⁴-labeled gibberellic acid was synthesized by cultures of Fusarium moniliforme (NRRL 2284) from acetate-1-C¹⁴ and acetate-2-C¹⁴. The results showed that the methyl-carbon of acetate was converted more efficiently to gibberellic acid than the carboxyl-carbon. Also, 3-methyl crotonic acid-3-C¹⁴ and 3-methyl crotonic acid-3-methyl-C¹⁴, 4-C¹⁴ were converted into small quantities of C¹⁴-labeled gibberellic acid. Other substrates which were studied included mevalonic acid-2-C¹⁴, uniformly C¹⁴-labeled sucrose, glucose, and fructose. These experiments confirmed that acetate and 3-methyl crotonic acid may be precursors in the biosynthesis of gibberellic acid by F. moniliforme.