84 



BIOCHEMISTRY OF FUNGI 



dye indicate that it is related to the xanthone and flavone group. 

 Its empirical formula is Ci-iHioOy^HjO, with the following 

 structural constitution: 



C 4 H e O 



The other pigment, citrinin, also crystallizes as yellow crystals 

 but is iodine brown in ferric chloride and discolors instantly in 

 potassium permanganate. Its empirical formula is given as 

 C13H14O5, with the following structural constitution: 



C 2 H 5 

 0/S0H 



H 3 C 



H 3 C 



H 



COOH 

 O 



Carotene. Certain Phy corny cetes, such as Phy corny ces blake- 

 sleeamis, Mucor hievmlis, and Allomyces javanicus, contain /^-caro- 

 tene, the precursor of vitamin A. The gametes of Allomyces 

 macro gyna and A. moniliformis contain y-carotene [Emerson and 

 Fox ( 1940) ] . Carotene occurs also in Pilobolus and is not uncom- 

 mon among Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, especially rusts 

 and jelly fungi. 



Other pigments. Clutterbuck et al. (1932) isolated from Penl- 

 cillhim clnysogemim a yellow pigment whose empirical formula 

 is CisH-.O,;. From Monascus purpureus two pigments, monasco- 

 rubrin, C22H24O5, and monascoflavin, Ci 7 H_. L .0 4 , have been ob- 

 tained. Monascorubrin is red and may be converted by hydro- 

 gen peroxide into monascoflavin, which is yellow [Birkinshaw 

 (1937)]. Two pigments, oosporin, CioH 14 0,;, and aurantin, 

 C1r.H-.O3, have been obtained from Oospora aurantla. 



Gould and Raistrick (1934) isolated from members of the 

 Aspergillus glaucus group three pigments; flavoglaucin, C19H28O3, 

 auroulaucin, C^H^O.,, and rubro^laucin, Cir.Hi-O.-. 



