Studies in the biochemistry of micro-organisms

IN a biochemical and toxicological study of Penicillium puberulum Bainier, one of the organisms responsible for the deterioration of maize, Alsberg and Black 1913 isolated from the products of metabolism of this mould when grown on Raulin's medium a definite crystalline substance, to which they gave the name of penicillic acid. They determined its empirical formula (C8H1004) and described its properties in detail, but did not determine its constitution. Since the authentic culture used by Alsberg and Black was available to us through the courtesy of Dr Charles Thom, of the United States Bureau of Agriculture, it was decided to investigate further this interesting organism, the morphological characteristics of which are described on p. 272 of Thom's Penicillia 1930.