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8313642 
Journal Article 
A Crystalline Organo-Iron Pigment from a Rust Fungus (Ustilago sphaerogena) 
Neilands, JB 
1952 
Yes 
Journal of the American Chemical Society
ISSN: 0002-7863
EISSN: 1520-5126 
74 
19 
4846-4847 
English 
A crystalline organo-iron pigment has been isolated from the cells of the rust fungus Ustilago sphaerogena. The organism was cultured by large-scale fermentation and the pigment extracted from the cells with dilute alkali. Ammonium sulfate was used to deproteinize the extract, the pigment was taken into benzyl alcohol and crystallized from methanol. The recrystallized material was homogeneous on chromatography and specific extinction coefficient tests. The presence of iron was proven by emission spectrography and analyses. In aqueous solutions, þH 4 to 10, there is a broad absorption band with a maximum at 425 mμ. A negative hemochrome test, in addition to other evidence, shows the substance does not have the nature of a heme compound. It is proposed to name the substance “ferrichrome”. © 1952, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.