Fungal metabolism of (-)-deprenyl and pargyline

Deprenyl and pargyline were readily metabolized by Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9244 and the products obtained were identified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Deprenyl was completely metabolized to four products; amphetamine, N-methylamphetamine, 1-phenyl 2-propanone oxime and N-acetylamphetamine. Pargyline metabolism extracts contained substrate and five products; N-propargylbenzylamine, N-hydroxy-N-propargylbenzylamine, N-methylbenzylamine, N-acetylbenzylamine and benzylamine. Substrate concentration influenced the relative amounts of metabolites recovered. C. echinulata is an excellent organism for use as a model of mammalian metabolism.