Chitin synthetase from yeast-type cells ofMucor rouxii induced by malonic acid: a screen for antifungal agents and isolation of an active metabolite from an actinomycetes.

In an aerobic medium malonic acid inducedMucor rouxii to produce yeast-type cells exclusively. Chitin synthetase in a cell-free extract from these yeast cells increased its activity upon standing at 28°C or when activated by trypsin. It was similar in stability to that from the yeast cells formed under an atmosphere of N2/CO2 (7∶3 v/v). By using the enzyme activity as a model screen, a competitive inhibitor of chitin synthetase has been isolated from the fermentation broth of an actinomycete isolate.