The role of the alternative respiratory pathway in the stimulation of cephalosporin C formation by soybean oil in Acremonium chrysogenum

Addition of soybean oil to Acremonium chrysogenum cultures growing on sugar s doubled the specific production of cephalosporin C during the idio-phase of growth. While the addition of soybean oil had no effect on the total rat e of respiration, the respiration that proceeded via the alternative, cyani de-insensitive pathway exhibited a more than twofold increase. Addition of soybean oil also stimulated the formation of isocitrate lyase activities. I nhibition of oxidative metabolism of one of the products of isocitrate lyas e (succinate) by thenoyltrifluoroacetone completely inhibited the alternati ve respiratory pathway. The role of soybean-oil-stimulated alternative resp iration in the stimulation of cephalosporin C production and the role of is ocitrate lyase are discussed.