Stimulating Effect of Xylose on the Utilization of Galactose in Some Fungi

Abstract

THE wild type of the ascomycete Ophiostoma multiannulatum does not grow on the hexose D-galactose as a sole source of carbon although the fungus can respire on it¹. In an investigation² of the ability of Ophiostoma to utilize galactose in the presence of glucose it was found that in such mixtures a certain amount of galactose, which depended on the concentration of glucose, was utilized for synthesis of cell material. Similar results were obtained when galactose was mixed with fructose, mannose or glycerol. It therefore seems that cells of the wild type can utilize galactose for growth only if another source of utilizable carbon or some metabolic intermediate of such a compound is present in the cells.