Biosynthesis of fat and of citric acid in submerged cultures of Penicillium spinulosum

Studies were made on the behaviour of preformed pellets of Penicillium spinulosum suspended in sucrose solutions supplemented with other simple compounds, which could be regarded as intermediates in the breakdown of sucrose or/and the formation of fat and citric acid. Both acetate and pyruvate increased the yields of citric acid at the expense of fat, but acetaldehyde and ethanol stimulated the formation of both citric acid and fat. Lactate suppressed the biosynthesis of the two products.