Penicillium species, inhibition

Penicillium species produce various mycotoxins. Strains of Penicillium citreo-viride, which infect rice, produce the mycotoxin, dtreoviridin (9.20). This compound is the cause of a condition known as cardiac beriberi , which is characterized by cardiovascular disorders, difficulty in breathing and nausea. The mechanism of action involves the inhibition of mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Cardiac beriberi was a serious infection of people eating rice as a staple diet, causing many fatalities until the origin was identified. 

The development and use of HMGRIs began in 1976 with the discovery of mevastatin. Originally named compactin, this fungal metabolite was isolated from two different species of Penicillium and demonstrated potent, competitive inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. Its affinity for the enzyme was shown to be 10,000-fold greater than that of the substrate HMG-CoA (22). Several years later, a structurally similar compound was isolated from Monascus ruber and Aspergillus terreus. This compound was originally known as... 

C6H6O4, Mr 142.11. Prismatic crystal needles, mp. 153-154 °C, soluble in water K. is formed by Aspergillus species (e. g., A. albus, A. flavus, A. oryzae, A, fumigatus), Penicillium daleae and bacteria of the genus Acetobacter in carbohydrate rich nutrient media, it can also be synthesized from glucose and other hex-oses. K. has antibiotic and insecticidal activities and forms chelates. It inhibits polyphenol oxidases (tyro-... 

Gourama, H. (1997). Inhibition of growth and mycotoxin production of Penicillium by Lactobacillus species. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und Technologic, 30, 279-283. 

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