Studies on the Intracellular Amino Acids of Penicillium Roqueforti

SUMMARY

Penicillium roqueforti was found to contain an intracellular amino acid pool comprising approximately 5 to 15% of the total cell nitrogen. The pool contained most of the common amino acids; however, proline and hydroxyproline were not detected. The qualitative pattern of the pool was relatively stable and was similar in both vegetative cells and spores. The pool level of vegetative cells increased upon incubation in a nitrogen-free medium and decreased when incubated with several inhibitors of respiration, or purine and pyrimidine bases. Indications were obtained of an internal pool replenishment mechanism in nitrogen-depleted cells.