Studies in the biochemistry of micro-organisms

IN a series of publications which have recently appeared [Raistrick et al., 1931] an account is given of an intensive study, extending over a period of seven years, of the products of the metabolism of glucose, in synthetic media containing no other source of carbon, by a large number of different species of the lower fungi.Several new types of metabolic products were described, many of which were shown to contain a benzene nucleus.More recently it has been possible to extend this work, and, thanks to the courtesy of Professor Philip Biourge of the University of Louvain, several different species of Penicillium have been examined which were not available previously.One of these species was P. griseo-fulvum Dierckx, which was originally described by Dierckx [1901], and, more recently, by Biourge [1923] in his monograph on the genus Penicillium.This species bears Biourge's catalogue number 34.In view of the interesting results we obtained with this species, we asked Professor Biourge to re-examine our culture and his report follows."Voici assez parfaitement determine le Penicillium que vous m'avez envoy6 pendant les vacances.C'est bien le Penicillium griseo-fulvum Dierckx (Biourge No. 34).C'est une espece peu commune.C'est la troisieme fois que je la rencontre, y compris l'observation originale de Dierckx en 1898-1900, dans mon laboratoire.Elle est bien pure.Spores bleu celeste tres pale, et finale- ment gris-rose.Revers jaune X jaune-rouge.Coremia tardifs, liquefaction de la gelatine souvent precoce, odeur 0."We desire to thank Professor Biourge for his friendly co-operation.It was found that, when this species of Penicillium is grown on a synthetic medium containing glucose as the sole source of carbon, the metabolism solu- tion, after some days, gives an intense purple colour with ferric chloride, very similar in shade to aqueous potassium permanganate solution.