title: Specificity of penicillin acylase of Fusarium and of Penicillium chrysogenum.
abstract: Extracts containing penicillin acylase were obtained by shaking the mycelium of Fusarium avenaceum and of Penicillium chrysogenum in 0.2 M sodium acetate or sodium chloride solution. The optimum pH for conversion of penicillin V into 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) by the enzyme of Fusarium was about 7.5, and the reaction velocity was increased by a rise in temperature from 27 to 37 C. Penicillin G and penicillins with an aliphatic side chain were cleaved much less readily than was penicillin V. With the enzyme preparation obtained from a nonpenicillin-producing strain of P. chrysogenum, the reaction rate was higher at pH 8.5 than at pH 7.5 and pH 6.5. The acylase of P. chrysogenum hydrolyzes penicillin V more readily than penicillin G. In a series of aliphatic penicillins, the amount of 6-APA formed through the action of this enzyme increased with the number of carbon atoms of the side chain. Penicillins with a glutaryl or an adipyl group as side chain were unaffected by the enzyme of Fusarium and of Penicillium. No reaction was observed upon incubation of penicillin N (with a D-aminoadipyl side chain) or isopenicillin N (with an L-aminoadipyl side chain) with Fusarium and Penicillium extract. When the carboxy group of the side chain of these penicillins was esterified, formation of 6-APA was observed upon incubation with Penicillium extract, whereas no 6-APA or only very small amounts were obtained by acylase of Fusarium.
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases; D005670:Fusarium / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000378:metabolism; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000378:metabolism; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism; D010407:Penicillium / Q000201:enzymology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D010400:Penicillin G; D010404:Penicillin V