A new selection method for isolating mutants defective in acetate utilisation inAspergillus nidulans

Propionate medium is normally toxic for the growth ofAspergillus nidulans. Spontaneous mutations relieving the toxicity to propionate, which arose on propionate medium, have been shown to be mutations in acetate metabolism. Oneacu^– mutant is allelic withacuA (the structural gene for acetyl-CoA synthetase), another withacuB (the regulatory gene involved in the induction of enzymes concerned with acetate metabolism, including acetyl-CoA synthetase), and a third mutants,acuO, represents a newacu^– locus that maps on likage group V.