Relationship between the biosynthesis of virus-like particles and mycophenolic acid in Penicillium stoloniferum and Penicillium brevi-compactum.

DETRO)", R, \\"., S. N. FREER, and D. I. FEC;C;ELL. 1973. Relationship betwcen the biosynthesis of viruslike panic!cs and mycophenolic acid in Pellicillilllll s!olonifertlli1 and Penicillium hrel'i-compaCfIlIll. Can. J. ivlicrobiol. 19: 1459-1462. Several strains of Penieillilllll s!olonZrerll'n and P. breci-compaCI/ll1l containing no virus-like particles (YLP) synthesize mycophenolic acid (MAl, an antiviral metabolite: one strain of P. srolonirerllm producing more than 600 J..lg YLP/g dry weight mycelia synthesized no detectable MA. However; one strain of P. brai-coli/pac!1I111 produced 5 J..lg VLP;g dry weight plus lv1A. Preliminary data suggest that MA may act as an antivirus in controlling fungal virus infection or its replication, or both.