The biosynthesis of 4-hydroxycoumarin and dicoumarol by Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius |
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| Authors: | A Bye and H K King |
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| Institution: | Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Biochemistry, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | A strain of Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius, isolated from spoiled hay, converts melilotic acid (o-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid) and o-coumaric acid into 4-hydroxycoumarin and dicoumarol. The sequence is shown to be melilotic acid (I) Formula: see text] coumaric acid (IV) Formula: see text] beta-hydroxymelilotic acid (II) Formula: see text] beta-oxomelilotic acid (III) Formula: see text] 4-hydroxycoumarin (VI), on the basis of (1) studies on the formation of postulated intermediates, (2) experiments with isotopically labelled materials and (3) sequential enzyme induction. In the presence of semicarbazide, o-coumaraldehyde is formed from o-coumaric acid: there is no evidence, however, that this lies on the normal metabolic pathway. |
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