Biotransformation of alpha-bulnesene using a plant pathogenic fungus, Glomerella cingulata as a biocatalyst

The biotransformation of a sesquiterpene having a guaiane skeleton, namely (+)-alpha-bulnesene was investigated using the plant pathogenic fungus, Glomerella cingulata as a biocatalyst. (+)-alpha-Bulnesene was oxidized at the double bond of the isopropenyl group and hydroxylated at the allylic methyl group to (4S,5S,7R)-1(10)-guaien-11,13,15-triol.     

Biological stereoselective reduction of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone by Glomerella cingulata

The microbial transformation of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone was investigated using the plant pathogenic fungus, Glomerella cingulata. With this organism 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone gave the corresponding cis- and trans-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanols with the ratio of 20:1 forming the cis-isomer highly stereoselectively, upon 5 days incubation together with 3,3,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (isophrone) as a minor product.     

Biotransformation of daidzein ditiglate by microorganisms

Biotransformation of the daidzein ditiglate (2) by fungi, Aspergillus niger and Glomerella cingulata was investigated. Compound 2 was transformed to daidzein (1) by A. niger and G. cingulata. This suggested that compound 2 was converted to compound 1 by hydrolysis at both of the C-7 and C-4' positions.     

Stereoselective oxidation at C-4 of flavans by the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. isolated from a tea plant

The microbial transformation of five flavans (1-5) by endophytic fungi isolated from the tea plant Camellia sinensis was investigated. It was found that the endophytic filamentous fungus Diaporthe sp. oxidized stereoselectively at C-4 position of (+)-catechin (1) and (-)-epicatechin (2) to give the correspondent 3,4-cis-dihydroxyflavan derivatives (6, 10), respectively. (-)-Epicatechin 3-O-gallate (3) and (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (4) were also oxidized by the fungus into 3,4-dihydroxyflavan derivatives (10, 12) via (-)-epicatechin (2) and (-)-epigallocatechin (11), respectively. Meanwhile, (-)-gallocatechin 3-O-gallate (5), (-)-catechin (ent-1) and (+)-epicatechin (ent-2), which possess a 2S-phenyl substitution, resisted the biotransformation.     

Biotransformation of (-)-guaiol by Eurotium rubrum as a biocatalyst

The biotransformation of (-)-guaiol (1) has been investigated by using plant parasite fungus, Eurotium rubrum. Compound 1 was oxidized at the C-2 position, and transformed to pancherione.     

Gastrodin Production from p-2-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol Through Biotransformation by Cultured Cells of Aspergillus foetidus and Penicillium cyclopium

The objective of this work was to take advantage of the resting cells of suitable fungus as an in vitro model to prepare gastrodin from p-2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), which mainly exists in the metabolites of the plant Gastrodia elata Blume. The one-step biotransformation of HBA into gastrodin was examined with the filamentous fungi cells of Aspergillus foetidus and Penicillium cyclopium AS 3.4513 in this study. The fundamental conditions of biotransformation were screened and compared for both fungi. P. cyclopium AS 3.4513 had better gastrodin-producing capability than A. foetidus through one-step bioconversion. The highest yield of gastrodin was 36 mg/L for A. foetidus ZU-G1 and 65 mg/L for P. cyclopium AS 3.4513 under the respective development condition during 6 days of biotransformation. The comparative results show that P. cyclopium AS 3.4513 reveals great potential to form gastrodin using HBA as the precursor. The products catalyzed by the resting cells of P. cyclopium AS 3.4513 were identified through NMR and ESI-MS. Current results can be applied not only to the chemical synthesis processes that may involve the hydroxylation reaction but also to the industrial production. The selected fungus is the potential biocatalyst for HBA glucosylation.     

Antifungal Depsidone Metabolites from Cordyceps dipterigena, an Endophytic Fungus Antagonistic to the Phytopathogen Gibberella fujikuroi

Among thirty four endophytic fungal strains screened for in vitro antagonism, the endophytic fungus Cordyceps dipterigena was found to strongly inhibit mycelial growth of the plant pathogenic fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. Two new depsidone metabolites, cordycepsidone A (1) and cordycepsidone B (2), were isolated from the PDA culture extract of C. dipterigena and identified as being responsible for the antifungal activity. Elucidation of their chemical structures was carried out using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy in combination with IR and MS spectroscopic data. Cordycepsidone A displayed strong and dose-dependent antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. The isolates were inactive in bioassays for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani), Chagas's disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), and cytotoxicity at 10 μg/mL. The compounds were also found to be inactive against several bacterial strains at 50 μg/mL.     

New Cardenolides from Biotransformation of Gitoxigenin by the Endophytic Fungus Alternaria eureka 1E1BL1: Characterization and Cytotoxic Activities

Microbial biotransformation is an important tool in drug discovery and for metabolism studies. To expand our bioactive natural product library via modification and to identify possible mammalian metabolites, a cytotoxic cardenolide (gitoxigenin) was biotransformed using the endophytic fungus Alternaria eureka 1E1BL1. Initially, oleandrin was isolated from the dried leaves of Nerium oleander L. and subjected to an acid-catalysed hydrolysis to obtain the substrate gitoxigenin (yield; ~25%). After 21 days of incubation, five new cardenolides 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 and three previously- identified compounds 2, 5 and 7 were isolated using chromatographic methods. Structural elucidations were accomplished through 1D/2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and FT-IR analysis. A. eureka catalyzed oxygenation, oxidation, epimerization and dimethyl acetal formation reactions on the substrate. Cytotoxicity of the metabolites were evaluated using MTT cell viability method, whereas doxorubicin and oleandrin were used as positive controls. Biotransformation products displayed less cytotoxicity than the substrate. The new metabolite 8 exhibited the highest activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.25, 1.95 and 3.4 µM against A549, PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells, respectively, without causing toxicity on healthy cell lines (MRC-5 and HEK-293) up to concentration of 10 µM. Our results suggest that A. eureka is an effective biocatalyst for modifying cardenolide-type secondary metabolites.     

Microbial reduction of coumarin, psoralen, and xanthyletin by Glomerella cingulata

Microbial transformation of coumarin, psoralen, and xanthyletin was performed with the fungus Glomerella cingulata. The main reaction pathways involved reduction at α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone ring on coumarin analogue. Coumarin was metabolized by G. cingulata to give the corresponding reduced acid, hydrocoumaric acid. In the biotransformation of psoralen, two reduced metabolites, 6,7-furano-hydrocoumaric acid, and 6,7-furano-o-hydrocoumaryl alcohol were isolated from the incubation of psoralen. Xanthyletin was converted to reduced products 9,9-dimethyl-6,7-pyrano-hydrocoumaric acid and 9,9-dimethyl-6,7-pyrano-o-hydrocoumaryl alcohol by G. cingulata. The structures of the new compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. In addition, all of compounds including methyl ester derivatives of the metabolites were tested for the β-secretase (BACE1) inhibitory activity in vitro. 6,7-Furano-hydrocoumaric acid methyl ester was shown to possess BACE1 inhibitory activity, and an IC₅₀ value was 0.84 ± 0.06 mM.     

Metabolism of the crucifer phytoalexins wasalexin A and B in the plant pathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans

Wasalexins A and B are crucifer phytoalexins produced by two substantially different plant species, a wild species abundant in the Canadian prairies and a condiment plant widely cultivated in Japan. Interestingly, both plant species are resistant to an economically important fungal plant pathogen, the blackleg fungus [Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. et de Not., asexual stage Phoma lingam (Tode ex Fr.) Desm.]. The transformation of wasalexins A and B in cultures of isolates of L. maculans, an isolate highly virulent towards canola (BJ 125) and a less common isolate which is virulent towards wasabi (Laird 2/Mayfair 2) was investigated. It was established that both fungal isolates are able to efficiently metabolize and detoxify wasalexins A and B through reduction in the case of wasalexin A or through hydrolysis followed by reduction in the case of wasalexin B. Moreover, a close structural analogue of wasalexins, which does not occur naturally, was also found to be reduced in cultures of L. maculans. The structures of the new metabolic products were elucidated using spectroscopic methods and were confirmed by synthesis. Bioassays indicated that the biotransformation of wasalexins is a detoxification process that may contribute to the aggressive nature of these fungal isolates towards plants that produce wasalexins.     

Biopreparation of (-)-(1S,3R,4S,6S)-6-hydroxymenthol and (-)-(1S,3R,4S)-1-hydroxymenthol from 1-menthol by Rhizoctonia solani AG-1-IA and IB

Microbial transformation of 1-menthol (1) by six isolates of soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani AG-1-IA (Rs24, Joichi-2 and RRG97-1) and AG-1-IB (TR22, R147 and 110.4) as a biocatalyst was investigated. Twenty one days precultivation of Rhizoctonia solani AG-1-IA Rs24 and AG-1-IB 110.4 showed excellent yield (98.5-98.6%) of (-)-(1S,3R,4S,6S)-6-hydroxymenthol (2) and (-)-(1S,3R,4S)-1-hydroxymenthol (3) from 1.     

Biotransformation of agallochaexcoerin A by Aspergillus flavus

Agallochaexcoerin A (1), a seco-manoyl oxide diterpenoid was metabolised by pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus flavus, in growth media to yield a new metabolite, termed agallochaexcoerin G (2). It was confirmed by using IR, UV, ¹H NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. This microbial bioconversion was achieved by unusual dehydration at C-4 position.     

Solid phase microextraction and LC–MS/MS for the determination of paliperidone after stereoselective fungal biotransformation of risperidone

The present work describes for the first time the use of SPME coupled to LC–MS/MS employing the polar organic mode in a stereoselective fungal biotransformation study to investigate the fungi ability to biotransform the drug risperidone into its chiral and active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-RispOH). The chromatographic separation was performed on a Chiralcel OJ-H column using methanol:ethanol (50:50, v/v) plus 0.2% triethylamine as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹. The SPME process was performed using a C18 fiber, 30 min of extraction time and 5 min of desorption time in the mobile phase. The method was completely validated and all parameters were in agreement with the literature recommendations. The Cunninghamella echinulata fungus was able to biotransform risperidone into the active metabolite, (+)-9-RispOH, resulting in 100% of enantiomeric excess. The Cunninghamella elegans fungus was also able to stereoselectively biotransform risperidone into (+)- and (−)-9-RispOH enantiomers at different rates.     

Biooxidation of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin into 3,4-dihydroxyflavan derivatives by the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. isolated from a tea plant

The microbial transformation of (+)-catechin (1) and (-)-epicatechin (2) by endophytic fungi isolated from a tea plant was investigated. It was found that the endophytic filamentous fungus Diaporthe sp. transformed them (1, 2) into the 3,4-cis-dihydroxyflavan derivatives, (+)-(2R,3S,4S)-3,4,5,7,3',4'-hexahydroxyflavan (3) and (-)-(2R,3R,4R)-3,4,5,7,3',4'-hexahydroxyflavan (7), respectively, whereas (-)-catechin (ent-1) and (+)-epicatechin (ent-2) with a 2S-phenyl group resisted the biooxidation.     

Gastrolatathioneine,an unusual ergothioneine derivative from an aqueous extract of “tian ma”: A natural product co-produced by plant and symbiotic fungus

Gastrolatathioneine (1), an unusual natural product derived from ergothioneine, a fungal amino acid containing an imidazole-2-thione moiety, was isolated from an aqueous extract of "tian ma" (the Gastrodia elata rhizomes). The structure of 1 including the absolute configuration was determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, combined with comparison of an experimental circular dichroism spectrum and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra of stereoisomers, and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The natural origin of 1 was proved by HPLC-ESIMS analysis of the crude extract. A biogenetic pathway of 1 is proposed on the basis of metabolic post-modification of ergothioneine that is biosynthesized by a symbiotic fungus. The plant and symbiotic fungus are co-producers of 1.     

Chemo-enzymatic enantio-convergent asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-Marmin

Asymmetric biohydrolysis of trisubstituted terpenoid oxiranes (rac-1a-rac-3a) was accomplished by employing the epoxide hydrolase activity Rhodococcus and Streptomyces spp. Depending on the biocatalyst, the biohydrolysis proceeded in an enantio-convergent fashion and gave the corresponding vic-diols in up to 97% ee at conversions beyond the 50%-threshold. In order to avoid a depletion of the ee of product by further oxidative metabolism, bioconversions had to be conducted in an inert atmosphere with exclusion of molecular oxygen. The synthetic applicability of this method was demonstrated by the asymmetric total synthesis of the monoterpenoid coumarin (R)-(+)-Marmin in 95% ee.     

Synthesis of a natural gamma-butyrolactone from nerylacetone by Acremonium roseum and Fusarium oxysporum cultures

Natural gamma-butyrolactone - (4R, 5R)-5-(4'-methyl-3'pentenyl)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-dihydrofuran-2-one (2) was isolated as the product of microbial transformation of nerylacetone (1) by fungal strains. This product was obtained as the enantiomer (+) in high yields 24% and 61% with ee=94% and 82% by the biotransformation in the cultures of Acremonium roseum AM336 and Fusarium oxysporum AM13 respectively.     

Molecular recognition in (+)-alpha-pinene oxidation by cytochrome P450cam

Oxygenated derivatives of the monoterpene (+)-alpha-pinene are found in plant essential oils and used as fragrances and flavorings. (+)-alpha-Pinene is structurally related to (+)-camphor, the natural substrate of the heme monooxygenase cytochrome P450(cam) from Pseudomonas putida. The aim of the present work was to apply the current understanding of P450 substrate binding and catalysis to engineer P450(cam) for the selective oxidation of (+)-alpha-pinene. Consideration of the structures of (+)-camphor and (+)-alpha-pinene lead to active-site mutants containing combinations of the Y96F, F87A, F87L, F87W, and V247L mutations. All mutants showed greatly enhanced binding and rate of oxidation of (+)-alpha-pinene. Some mutants had tighter (+)-alpha-pinene binding than camphor binding by the wild-type. The most active was the Y96F/V247L mutant, with a (+)-alpha-pinene oxidation rate of 270 nmol (nmol of P450(cam))(-)(1) min(-)(1), which was 70% of the rate of camphor oxidation by wild-type P450(cam). Camphor is oxidized by wild-type P450(cam) exclusively to 5-exo-hydroxycamphor. If the gem dimethyl groups of (+)-alpha-pinene occupied similar positions to those found for camphor in the wild-type structure, (+)-cis-verbenol would be the dominant product. All P450(cam) enzymes studied gave (+)-cis-verbenol as the major product but with much reduced selectivity compared to camphor oxidation by the wild-type. (+)-Verbenone, (+)-myrtenol, and the (+)-alpha-pinene epoxides were among the minor products. The crystal structure of the Y96F/F87W/V247L mutant, the most selective of the P450(cam) mutants initially examined, was determined to provide further insight into P450(cam) substrate binding and catalysis. (+)-alpha-Pinene was bound in two orientations which were related by rotation of the molecule. One orientation was similar to that of camphor in the wild-type enzyme while the other was significantly different. Analysis of the enzyme/substrate contacts suggested rationalizations of the product distribution. In particular competition rather than cooperativity between the F87W and V247L mutations and substrate movement during catalysis were proposed to be major factors. The crystal structure lead to the introduction of the L244A mutation to increase the selectivity of pinene oxidation by further biasing the binding orientation toward that of camphor in the wild-type structure. The F87W/Y96F/L244A mutant gave 86% (+)-cis-verbenol and 5% (+)-verbenone. The Y96F/L244A/V247L mutant gave 55% (+)-cis-verbenol but interestingly also 32% (+)-verbenone, suggesting that it may be possible to engineer a P450(cam) mutant that could oxidize (+)-alpha-pinene directly to (+)-verbenone. Verbenol, verbenone, and myrtenol are naturally occurring plant fragrance and flavorings. The preparation of these compounds by selective enzymatic oxidation of (+)-alpha-pinene, which is readily available in large quantities, could have applications in synthesis. The results also show that the protein engineering of P450(cam) for high selectivity of substrate oxidation is more difficult than achieving high substrate turnover rates because of the subtle and dynamic nature of enzyme-substrate interactions.     

Plant‐like cadinane sesquiterpenes from an actinobacterial mangrove endophyte

Cadinanes are typical plant sesquiterpenes with a broad range of biological functions. We report the isolation of three cadinanes ( 1–3 ) from a bacterial endophyte (Streptomyces sp.) of the mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. The structures of two new cadinenes, (+)‐11‐hydroxy‐epicubenol ( 1 ) and (+)‐12‐hydroxy‐epicubenol ( 2 ) were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. The bacterial product (+)‐11‐hydroxy‐epicubenol was elucidated to be an enantiomer of the plant product pubinernoid C. (+)‐12‐Hydroxy‐epicubenol was established as a diastereomer of the basidiomycete product trichapargin A. In addition, a crystal structure analysis corroborated the structure and configuration of 5,11‐epoxy‐10‐cadinanol ( 3 ), a cadinane cycloether initially described as a natural product from liverwort. The discovery of oxygenated cadinanes from a bacterial endophyte may set the basis for the production of cadinanes by bacterial fermentation.