Inhibition of Mucor rouxii by Polyoxin D: Effects on Chitin Synthetase and Morphological Development

Abstract

Summary: Polyoxin D is a strong inhibitor of growth and spore germination of Mucor rouxii. This antibiotic inhibited the growth of both the yeast and mycelial forms of M. rouxii. It caused some minor morphological alterations but did not decisively affect the pattern of dimorphic development. Polyoxin D is a powerful competitive inhibitor of chitin synthetase (Ki, = 0·6 μm). Organisms growing at inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotic exhibited weakened walls that were susceptible to bursting.