Persistence of Candida sp. 115 during hydrolysis of penicillin G and metabolism of phenylacetic acid.

The growth of Candida sp. 115 was investigated on the constituents of penicillin G hydrolysis reaction mixture. Neither penicillin G nor 6-aminopenicillanic acid was degraded or utilised for growth. The yeast accepted phenylacetic acid, sodium acetate and glucose as growth substrates. Phenylacetic acid was metabolised via p-hydroxy phenylacetic acid, which was the only accumulated metabolite. The enzymes responsible for hydroxylation of phenylacetic acid were induced by phenylacetic acid and sodium acetate.