Abstract: | Resting cells of Aspergillus flavus synthesized aflatoxin from acetate as the sole carbon source after 36 h of incubation. Addition of pyruvate (5.5 mg/m) as cosubstrate to 1-14C]acetate and unlabeled acetate considerably reduced toxin production but increased the radioactivity on the tricarboxylic acid intermediates. This suggests that high tricarboxylic acid activity drastically affected toxin synthesis. |