Effect of deuterium oxide on culturing of Penicillium janczewskii I. Growth, nutritional factors, and antibiotic production

Studies with Deuterated Drugs

“…As indicated by Mrtek et al (128), a primary effect of deuteration in biological systems appears to be the suppression of nonessential metabolism, which in a way represents an afterthought for the organism. High deuterium oxide concentrations make Clauiceps use available metabolites for essential nutrition at the expense of alkaloid synthesis, a result similar to that observed by others (107,116). The replacement culture technique provides a mechanism for circumventing at least some problems encountered in the adaptation of the fungus to a deuterated environment.…”

“…Nona et al (107) investigated the effect of deuteration on the growth of Penicillium janczewskii, a mold that produces the antifungal antibiotic griseofulvin. The mold was cultured by the shake culture technique and by surface culture in media containing 50, 75, and 99.6% D20 with protio or deuterio sugars as the carbon source.…”

“…These sugars have been incorporated into deuterated nutrient media used for the culturing of organisms that elaborate natural products of therapeutic value. The sugars have been used in mechanistic studies of the biosynthesis of highly deuterated drugs including penicillin (117), griseofulvin (107), clavine alkaloids (127), and riboflavin (176).…”

Effect of Deuterium Oxide on the Culturing of Penicillium janczewskii II.

“…of deuterdted medium. The composition and preparation of the nutrient medium have been described previously (1). Fermentation was allowed to take place in 250-ml.…”

Biosynthesis of Deuterated Benzylpenicillins I: Solvent Deuterium Oxide Participation

“…A variety of organisms has been successfully cultured in pure deuterium oxide (DzO) (1); in several instances, pharmacologically active principles containing deuterium have been isolated and studied. Nona et al (2)(3)(4) studied the effects of DzO on the growth of Penicillium ianczewskii. Deuterated griseofulvin was isolated and its antifungal activity evaluated.…”