Initial Stages of Trisporic Acid Synthesis in Blakeslea trispora

Biotransformation of -carotene with enzyme preparations isolated from the mycelium of Blakeslea trispora resulted in the formation of its hydroxylated metabolite and apocarotenals, products of oxidative degradation of this compound. Based on its spectral, chromatographic, and chemical properties, the -carotene derivative was identified as 4-hydroxy--carotene (isocryptoxanthine). One of the products of oxidative degradation of -carotene, -apo-13-carotenone, was modified in the presence of enzyme preparations from Blakeslea trispora to form trisporic acid precursors. -Apo-13-carotenone transformation proceeded more rapidly than -carotene oxidation at the carbon atom at position 4. The data suggest that, under oxidative stress, oxidative degradation of -carotene into -apo-13-carotenone leads to the formation of considerable amounts of trisporic acids.