Inhibition of growth, lipid, and sterol biosynthesis by monensin in fungi

Abstract

The effects of monensin on the growth, morphology, and lipid metabolism of four fungi were determined. The growth of Hypomyces chlorinus, Neurospora crassa, Achlya bisexualis, and Taphrina deformans was suppressed by approximately 50% at 1, 2 to 5, 10, and 20 μg/ml monensin, respectively. Total lipid production, and more specifically the sterols, was reduced in each species by monensin. The hyphal tips of H. chlorinus cultured in the presence of monensin became swollen, whereas no morphological responses were observed in A. bisexualis. The results reported here suggest that growth suppression by monensin is possibly due to the interruption of endomembrane function, perhaps Golgi or their equivalents, which may result from the inhibition of sterol biosynthesis.