Survival of Fungi in Hyperbaric Oxygen in Relation to Changes in Catalase Activity

Abstract

Survival of replacement cultures of Mucor species in oxygen at 10 atm was markedly affected by the carbon source; cultures replaced on glucose media survived for a much shorter period than cultures on water while 1 per cent ethanol increased the survival time. This effect of carbon source on survival was correlated with changes in catalase activity; in the presence of glucose and other carbohydrates, catalase activity decreased whereas on 1 per cent ethanol a large increase in catalase activity occurred which was maintained for several days. An increase in catalase activity also occurred on methanol, pyruvate, glycerol, and formate. Induced changes in peroxidase activity were similar to those shown by catalase but the activity of three other enzymes decreased in hyperbaric oxygen on all media.