ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Key words Pigments
;
Monascus pigments
;
Leucine
;
Amino acids
;
Secondary metabolism
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The formation of soluble Monascus red pigments is strongly positively and negatively regulated by different amino acids. Leucine, valine, lysine, and methionine had strong negative effects on pigment formation. Leucine supported poor pigment formation when used as sole nitrogen source in fermentations, yet it neither repressed pigment synthase(s) nor inhibited its action. The new pigments derived from the hydrophobic leucine were more hydrophilic than the conventional red pigments (lacking an amino acid side-chain) and were extracellularly produced. Therefore, the low level of red pigments produced when leucine was the nitrogen source was not due to feedback regulation by cell-bound leucine pigments. The negative effect of leucine was caused by enhanced decay of pigment synthase(s). The enhanced decay was not due simply to de novo synthesis of a leucine-induced protease.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002030050111
