Production and purification of Penicillium citreoviride toxin and its effect on TPP-dependent liver transketolase.

The production isolation and purification of a yellow mycotoxin from Penicillium citreoviride NRRL 2579 in different culture media was described. When injected subcutaneously to albino rats it alters the kinetic pattern of transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) in liver in vivo in a competitive manner. In vitro, the inhibition is noncompetitive in nature. However, addition of thiamine diphosphate (TPP) to the in vitro system relieved the inhibitory effect. These findings suggested a relationship between citreoviridin-induced beriberi and the probable antithiamine effect of the toxin.