Epigenetic modifiers alter the secondary metabolite composition of a plant endophytic fungus, Pestalotiopsis crassiuscula obtained from the leaves of Fragaria chiloensis

Abstract

The addition of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 500 μM 5-azacytidine to the culture medium of a plant endophytic fungus, Pestalotiopsis crassiuscula, obtained from the leaves of Fragaria chiloensis, dramatically altered the profiles of its metabolites and resulted in the isolation of one new coumarin (1), along with six known compounds (2–7). HPLC profiles revealed that only compounds 3, 4, and 7 belonged to the new induced secondary metabolites. The structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR spectra.

Keywords::

• plant endophytic fungi
• Pestalotiopsis crassiuscula
• DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21202033), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (C2012201047), and Foundation of Hebei University (179).