• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.243-247
• /
• 1998

Comparative analyses of intracellular biopterin contents and its biosynthetic enzymes were performed in Allomyces macrogynus. Biopterin content in fresh weight was 14-fold higher in mycelium than in zoospore. Enzyme activities of GTP cyclohydrolase I and 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase in ammonium sulfate fractions were approximately 2-fold higher in mycelium. On the other hand, sepiapterin reductase (SR) activity was 10 fold higher in zoospore. Northern blot assay also demonstrated that SR transcript was abundant in zoospore. These results suggest a possible involvement of tetrahydrobiopterin in cellular differentiation of Allomyces macrogyllus as well as provide an experimental basis to elucidate the physiological function of SR in this organism.