Abstract
A new compound was obtained as the crystalline sublimate by destructive distillation from several species of Penicillium and Aspergillus. It was ascertained that this substance was one of the components of their spores and not the product formed secondarily by the destructive distillation. We gave to this substance the name “fungisporin”. It was found that fungisporin consisted of C, H, N and O, having a decomposition pt. 355_??_60°. (C13H16O2N2)x was proposed as the experimental formula of fungisporin. The fungisporin was not soluble in the majority of solvents, both organic and inorganic, and therefore, its alkyl and acyl derivatives could not be prepared. By treating with a conc. soln. of HNO3, it gave p-nitrobenzoic acid and a crystalline substance, mp. 132_??_5°, containing N. By treating with a conc. soln. of HCl, it gave an amine, having an experimental formula C8H13O2 N. The function of this amine is identified as the primary amine. The absorption spectrum of infrared ray showed the existence of the following groups such as -OH, or=NH, -CH=CH-, -CONH2, -CH2-, and -CH3. From these results, we assume that the fungisporin is a high molecular substance somewhat similar to a simple protein.
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