Changes in the cellular content of the pool constituents of Monosporium olivaceum -- a steroid hydroxylating mould.

Changes of the metabolic pool constitutents of Monosporium olivaceum -- a mould capable of steroid hydroxylation were examined. The experiments were carried during growth and starvation of the microorganism. The highest activity of the 11alpha-hydroxylase was observed in the mycelium which contained the lowest level of free amino acids, glucose, and mannitol. It is suggested that the inhibition of biosynthetic processes and the decrease of the respiration rate, the activity of the NAD(P)H regenerating systems maintained, provide the optimal physiological conditions for the activity of the steroid hydroxylases.