Microbial cleavage of zearalenone

Abstract

1. Zearalenone, a fungal oestrogenic compound, was subjected to microbial transformation studies. Preliminary screening with 150 fungal species showed that Gliocladium roseum was capable of metabolizing zearalenone in 80-90% yields.

2. Large-scale fermentation with G. roseum produced a 1:1 mixture of 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-10′-hydroxy-1-undecen-6′-one and 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6′-hydroxy-1-undecen-10′-one. The compounds were isolated and purified at −20°C. and identified using spectroscopic analysis and by comparison to products obtained from alkaline hydrolysis of zearalenone.