Manganese and antibiotic biosynthesis. I. A specific manganese requirement for patulin production in Penicillium urticae.

The effect of trace metal nutrition on the functioning of the patulin biosynthetic pathway in submerged cultures of Penicillium urticae (NRRL 2159A) was examined by both chromatographic and enzymological means. Comprehensive metal ion analysis showed generally low levels of contaminating metal ions in media components. Of eight metal ions examined, only manganese strongly influenced secondary metabolite production. In control cultures or cultures deficient in calcium, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, or molybdenum, pathway metabolites appeared in the medium at about 25 h after inoculation. The first pathway-specific metabolite, 6-methylsalicylic acid, accumulated only transiently before being converted to patulin whose concentration steadily increased. In manganese-deficient cultures, however, 6-methylsalicylic acid continued to accumulate, with only minor amounts of patulin being produced. Additionally, a marker enzyme for the pathway showed only 0-20% of control activity. Clear dose responses (patulin versus manganese) were found in different media, with no effect on growth yield. Addition of manganese to depleted cultures at 18, 26, or 36 h resulted in increasing marker enzyme activity and patulin concentrations. It is concluded that manganese exerts a specific, positive effect on patulin biosynthesis and may in some way control the section of the patulin pathway occurring after 6-methylsalicylic acid.