| Abstract: | Pre-grown mycelia of Lasiodiplodia theobromae ATCC 28570 transform β-ionone (1) into a large variety of metabolites, by mainly degrading the side-chain of the β-ionone molecule by a C2-unity. The enzyme system responsible for this degradation is proposed to be an oxygenase, which gives rise to the formation of the main product β-cyclo-homogeraniol (8) in analogy to a Baeyer- Villiger oxidation. Further enzymic actions of Lasiodiplodia such as hydrogenations and hydroxylations lead to an accumulation of several not yet described β-ionone metabolites. |
