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A mixture of related metabolites (denoted OR-1) was isolated from the fermentation broth of Penicillium funiculosum together with mitorubrinic acid. Structurally OR-1 is glyceric acid esterified with C14-C18 fatty acids. Steady-state studies revealed that OR-1 behaved like an uncompetitive trypsin inhibitor with Ki 17.6 mumol/L.

Biosynthesis of (-)-mitorubrinic acid and (-)-vermistatin byPenicillium vermiculatum strain IV/5 was stimulated by high concentration of glucose and urea as a C and N source, respectively. Effect of phosphate, trace elements and organic acids was also studied.

Aliphatic 1,2-alkanolamines inhibited beta-glucanase from Candida utilis. The highest inhibitory effect was observed with 1-dodecylamino-3-chloro-2-propanol (Ki = 1.0 mumol/L) and it was much higher than that of D-glucono-delta-lactone. Simple 1,2-alkanolamines, like 2-aminoethanol or 2-methylaminoethanol, did not exhibit any significant inhibitory effect.

Biosynthesis of vermiculin (1) and vermistatin (2) in Penicillium vermiculatum can be controlled by the carbon and nitrogen sources. Glucose and sucrose affect the levels of the two metabolites; cornsteep liquor influences the quality the biosynthesis. The concentrations of Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions also affect the biosynthesis, the effect being dependent on the type of carbon source utilized. The compounds capable of electron transport generally stimulate the production of 1 and 2 but do not influence the biosynthesis qualitatively.

L-Methionine and DL-ethionine decreased production of thiolutin and aureothricin in Streptomyces kasugaensis. In the presence of L-methionine the culture also produced 3-methylthioacrylic acid, 3-methylthiopropionic acid and 3,6-bis-(2-methylthioethyl)-2,5-dioxopiperazine. Production of the metabolites depended on the concentration of L-methionine in the medium.

Antibiotic PSX-1 exhibiting antitumour activity, formerly isolated from the filtrate of a culture of Penicillium stipitatum, was shown to be identical with botryodiplodin.