P R IM A R Y M ETA B O LIS M

FU N C TIO N S O F
M ETA B O LISM
ANABOLIC
Change nutrients into structural and
functional components of the organism
CATABOLIC
Extract chemical energy or nutrient
element such as N and S from complex
nutrients to provide E and materials for
anabolic reactions

 Anabolism depends on catabolism

for E in the form of NADH, ATP and

NADPH.
Also for the production of key

intermediates for functional

macromolecules synthesis

Prim ary M etabolism

The metabolic events that are

important to functions of fungus

in pure culture

 Secondary metabolism coextensive

with primary metabolism

The division into primary and
secondary depends on the
distribution of the metabolites
among the organisms.
Eg of metabolites?
Organic acid, vitamin, antibiotics etc.

Carbon and Energy

M etabolism
Glucose metabolism
Non-carbohydrates function as sole

sources of C, must be convertable to

glucose by a process called
gluconeogenesis
Provide precursors for cell wall ,
glycoproteins and other materials
derived directly from hexoses.

G lycolysis
Glycolysis:
the breakdown of glucose by enzymes,

releasing energy and pyruvic acid

3 pathways for hexoses:
1. EM (Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas)
2. HM (Hexose monophosphate )
3. ED (Entner-Doudoroff)

G lycolysis ofPentoses
2 pathways:
1. XP (xylitol pathway)
2. PK (phosphoketolase pathway)
. EM, HM and XP pathways are universal

in fungi
. PK widespread among yeasts
. ED only for Tilletia caries and
Caldariomyces fumago

 Although EM and HM pathways lead

through G3P to pyruvate but

different metabolic functions.
EM uses NAD as electron acceptor.
HM leads to the reduction of NADP to
NADPH.
There are other sources of reduced
NADP for biosynthetic purposes
besides HM pathway.

Ferm entation
Regeneration of NAD by the transfer

of electrons from NADH to an organic

electron acceptor generated by the
metabolism of the foodstuff.
In fungi this electron acceptor is
pyruvate

Types ofFerm entation

1. Alcoholic
2. Lactic acid
3. Mixed acid fermentation

Pyruvic acid as electron acceptor

ALCO H O LIC FERM EN TATIO N

Pyruvate to ethanol and CO2
Saccharomyces

Aspergillus, Fusarium and Mucor are

well known for this ability but

obligate aerobes.

LACTIC ACID FERM EN TATIO N

Found primarily in Chytridomycetes,

Oomycetes and Zygomycetes

Rhizopus, a member of Zygomycete,

carry out lactic acid fermentation

together with alcoholic fermentation.

M ixed Acid Ferm entation

Found in a small group of

Chytridiomycetes
Similar to mixed acid fermentation of

Enterobacteriaceae with acetate,

lactate, formate, ethanol, methane,
CO2 and H2 as end products.

R ESP IR ATIO N
In fungi is similar to that in other

organisms.
3 interdependent processes
1. Citric acid cycle
2. Electron transport
3. Oxidative phosphorylation
. Mitochondrion: center of respiration

 TCA is a central hub of both catabolic

and anabolic metabolism.

ETC 2nd critical process in

respiration

ALTERN ATIVE RESPIRATIO N

2 alternate pathways of electron

transport that are distinct from the

cytochrome path.
Differ from the cytochrome path in

being insensitive to cyanide and

sensitive to either salycil
hydroxamate (SHAM) or azide.

 SHAM-sensitive pathway accepts electrons as

the level of ubiquinol and transports them to O2

without proton transport
Without phosphorylation of ADP.
Azide-sensitive pathway also lack proton transport

capability.
The alternative pathways are readily demonstrable

when the normal pathway is blocked or limited.

EN ER G Y M ETA B O LISM O F
Group
Respirati Fermenta Anaerobi Fungi
FU
N
G
I
Name
on
tion
c
growth
Obligate Yes
respirers

No

No

Many yeasts and

most
filamentous
fungi

Aerobic
Yes
respirers

Anaerobic No
in
pregrown
cells

A few yeasts
and
filamentous
fungi

Aerobic
ferment
ors

Limited

Aerobic
No
and
Anaerobic

Schizosaccharo
myces
pombe and
other
yeasts

Facultati
ve
aerobic

Limited

Aerobic
Facultati
and
ve
Anaerobic

Saccharomyces
cerevisiae

O TH ER D EG RAD ATIVE
PATH W AYS
Serve several functions:

1. Release of NH4 for reutilization

2. Provision of carbon metabolites
utilizable as C and E sources
3. Detoxification of inhibitory
compounds
Example: degradation of amino

acids, purines and pyrimidines.

G LU C O N EO G EN ESIS
Required f o r growth on

noncarbohydrate carbon sources

Involves substrates closely related to
the EM pathway and requires the
reversal of this process.
general property of fungi.