Dissimilation of methionine by fungi

Abstract

Soil fungi that attacked methionine required a utilizable source of energy such as glucose for growth. This is an example of co-dissimilation. Experiments with one of the fungi, representative of the group, are reported. In the absence of glucose, pregrown mycelium, even when depleted of energy reserves, oxidatively deaminated methionine with accumulation of alpha-keto-gamma-methyl mercapto butyric acid and alpha-hydroxy-gamma-methyl mercapto butyric acid. When glucose was provided, all of the sulfur of methionine was released as methanethiol, part of which was oxidized to dimethyl disulfide. No sulfate, sulfide, or hydrosulfide products were detected. Evidence was obtained that deaminase and demethiolase were constitutive. Deamination preceded demethiolation and alpha-keto butyric acid accumulated as a product of the two reactions. Other carbon residues were alpha-hydroxy butyric acid and alpha-amino butyric acid. Inability of the fungus to metabolize alpha-keto butyrate was responsible for its inability to utilize methionine as a source of carbon and energy. Several other fungi isolated from soil grew on alpha-amino butyrate but could not grow on methionine owing to inability to demethiolate it.