Analysis of the oxidative stress response of Penicillium chrysogenum to menadione.

The intracellular superoxide and glutathione disulphide concentrations increased in Penicillium chrysogeum treated with 50, 250 or 500 microM menadione (MQ). A significant increase in the intracellular peroxide concentration was also observed when mycelia were exposed to 250 or 500 microM MQ. The specific activity of Cu,Zn and Mn superoxide dismutases, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase as well as the glutathione producing activity increased in the presence of MQ while glutathione peroxidase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were only induced by high intracellular peroxide levels. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and catalase activities did not respond to the oxidative stress caused by MQ.