Biochemical Changes in Cultures of Nectria galligena during the Autolytic Phase of Growth

Some biochemical changes occurring in cultures of Nectria galligena during its autolytic phase of growth have been investigated. In nitrate-grown and autolysed cultures of this fungus the degree of autolysis amounted to 57 per cent. The amount of mycelial lipids decreased continuously with the age of the culture. Total mycelial nitrogen did not substantially change within the first 50 days of autolysis. The constancy in the amount of bound amino acids released from mycelium of Nectria galligena strongly suggests that mycelial protein are not affected by autolysis.