THE EFFECTS OF β-METHYLGLUCOSE, 3-0-METHYLGLUCOSE and THIOGLUCOSE ON AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS PARASTICUS

Earlier work characterizing the effects of glucose analogs on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus was expanded by assessing the effects of β-methylglucose (βMG), 3-0-methylglucose (3MG) and thioglucose (TG). As sole carbon source of conidia-initiated cultures, βMG and 3MG, but not TG, supported growth, but none supported toxin production. In glucose-containing replacement cultures, MG appeared to stimulate toxin production, while TG was inhibitory and 3MG had no effect. Preliminary assessment of the effects of βMG, 3MG, TG, 2-deoxyglucose and α-methylglucose on glucose uptake and utilization by glucose-containing replacement cultures indicated that under conditions that favor aflatoxin production, none of the analogs inhibited the uptake of ¹⁴C-labelled glucose. It appears that the glucose transport system(s) of A. parasiticus may be unusual in that it is insensitive to a variety of glucose analogs.