Respiration of Basidiospores of Schizophyllum Commune.

Niederpruem, Donald J. (Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis). Respiration of basidiospores of Schizophyllum commune. J. Bacteriol. 88:210-215. 1964.-The aerobic metabolism of basidiospores of the wood-rotting mushroom Schizophyllum commune was investigated by use of manometric techniques and specific respiratory poisons. Basal respiration was stimulated markedly by the uncoupling agent 2,4-dinitrophenol. This effect was pH-dependent and was sensitive to antimycin A. A positive periodic acid-Schiff reaction and a respiratory quotient (CO(2)/O(2)) of near unity pointed to carbohydrate as the endogenous substrate. Oxygen consumption was increased by sucrose, certain hexoses, d-xylose, acetate, and ethanol. Oxidative assimilation was evident with d-glucose and acetate. Glucose oxidation was inhibited by cyanide, azide, antimycin A, Atabrine, and phenylmercuric acetate. These data implicate cytochrome oxidase, b- and c-type cytochromes, flavoprotein, and essential sulfhydryl groups in basidiospore respiration.