Abstract

VELASCO B., Rodrigo; GIL G., Jesús H.; GARCIA P., Carlos M.  and  DURANGO R., Diego L.. Structural modification of trans-cinnamic acid using Colletotrichum acutatum. Rev.fac.ing.univ. Antioquia [online]. 2012, n.63, pp.20-29. ISSN 0120-6230.

The biotransformation of trans-cinnamic acid by whole cells of the Colombian native phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum acutatum was studied. Initially, fungitoxicity of this compound against C. acutatum was evaluated; trans-cinnamic acid exhibited a moderate to weak toxicity against the microorganism and apparently a detoxification mechanism was present. Then, in order to study such mechanism and explore the capacity of this fungus to biotransform trans-cinnamic acid into value-added products, the microorganism was incubated with the substrate using three different culture media (Czapeck-Dox, Sabouraud and PDB) at room conditions. Using Czapeck-Dox medium, whole cultures of C. acutatum reduced trans-cinnamic acid, first to aldehydes (trans-cinnamaldehyde and 3-phenylpropanal), then to alcohols (cinnamyl alcohol and 3-phenyl-1-propanol). Subsequently, these alcohols were transformed to the corresponding acetyl esters. Nevertheless, some of these products were absent or present at different concentration when culture medium was changed. The results suggest a mechanism of detoxification in which the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system is affected. Besides, the formed metabolic products are useful compounds used as fragrances and flavors. Therefore, metabolism of trans-cinnamic acid using C. acutatum can provide new potential metabolic targets to control C. acutatum as well as a simple and efficient way to obtain flavor compound and perfumes, such as cinnamyl alcohol and 3-phenyl-1-propanol, and their acetyl esters.

Keywords : Biocatalyst; phytopathogenic fungus; metabolic pathway; culture media.

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