Changes in cell wall carbohydrate composition of Paecilomyces persicinus P-10 M1 during growth and cephalosporin C production.

The carbohydrate composition of the cell walls of Paecilomyces persicinus P-10 M1 was monitored daily for 6 days to detect any changes during growth and cephalosporin C production. Walls were isolated after mechanical breakage, sonication, and exposure to detergent. Major quantitative changes in cell wall carbohydrate composition accompanied a decrease in both cell weight and antibiotic production. Glucosamine content remained relatively constant in the 24- to 96-h cell walls and increased markedly in the 120- and 144-h preparations. The non-nitrogenous carbohydrate cell wall component, however, decreased significantly in the 48- and 120-h cell walls. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the non-nitrogenous carbohydrate cell well fraction revealed the presence of glucose, the major component, mannose, galactose, and minute quantities of arabinose. Except for glucose, which was found to decrease moderately in the 120- and 144-h cell walls, the neutral sugars did not vary significantly with time.