Metabolic Products of Aspergillus terreus. X. : Biosynthesis of Asterriquinones

• Published in: Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 38; no. 11; pp. 2929 - 2932
• Main Authors: ARAI, Kunizo, YAMAMOTO, Yuzuru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 1990; Maruzen
• Subjects: Asperigillus terreus; asterriquinone; asterriquinone synthase; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mechanisms. Catalysis. Electron transfer. Models; methyltransferase; Molecular biophysics; Physical chemistry in biology; prenyltransfease; Antineoplastic agent; Characterization; Reaction intermediate; Enzyme; Benzoquinone derivatives; Biosynthesis; Indole derivatives; Mechanism of action; Enzymatic reaction
• ISSN: 0009-2363; 1347-5223
• DOI: 10.1248/cpb.38.2929

The biosynthesis of asterriquinones in Aspergillus terreus var. africanus IFO 8835 has been elucidated. Enzymatic activities for the formation of demethyl asterriquinone-D (asterriquinone synthase), prenyltransferase and methyltransferase on asterriquinone were detected in a crude extract of mycelium. Demethyl asterriquinone is biosynthesized from indolepyruvic acid and then methylation of the hydroxyl of group of the quinone moiety occurs.Prenylation proceeds simultaneously at the C-7, C-2 and N-1 positions of the indole moiety.