Biotransformation of Indole Derivatives by Mycelial Cultures

Abstract

Biotransformation of tryptophan to tryptamine and 3-methyl-indole by Psilocybe coprophila was performed. On the other hand, Aspergillus niger was able to transform tryptophan to 5-hydroxy-tryptophan. P. coprophila biotransformed 5-hydroxy-tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptamine. These results prove once more that fungi are good tools to establish hydroxyindole derivatives.

Aspergillus niger catalyzes the synthesis of flavonoids from chalcones

“…The use of enzymes or microorganisms as biocatalysts for the building of new molecules has been well documented (Faber 2000;Alarcon et al 2007). Biotransformations of bioactive natural and synthetic compounds by microorganisms including Aspergillus species have been investigated (Das & Rosazza 2006;Alarcon et al 2008). Thus, regioselective O -demethylation of fl avones to their 4 ′ -O -demethylated metabolites was performed using an A. niger strain (Buisson et al 2007); reduction of the carbonyl group and dehydrogenation at C-2 and C-3 positions; reduction of the carbonyl group with hydroxylation at C-7; and dehydrogenation at C-2 and C-3 and hydroxylation at C-3 producing a fl avanol have all been reported by biotransformation of fl avanone with A. niger (Kostrzewa-Suslow et al, 2006.…”