Michihiko Saito

A rapid identification method for aflatoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus by ammonia vapor.

The colony reverse of aflatoxin (AF)-producing strains ofAspergillus flavus andA. parasiticus turned pink when their cultures were exposed to ammonia vapor. The color change was visible for colonies grown on media suitable for AF production such as potato dextrose, coconut, and yeast extract sucrose agars after 2 d incubation at 25°C. Of the 120 strains ofA. flavus, A. parasiticus, and two related species inA. flavus group:A. oryzae andA. sojae tested in this study, only the AF-producing strains ofA. flavus andA. parasiticus showed the pink pigmentation. The color change occurred immediately after the colony was contacted with ammonia vapor. This method was useful for rapid screening the AF-producing strains ofA. flavus andA. parasiticus.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu.

The biological degradation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenol)propane (1; bisphenol A, BPA), a representative endocrine disruptor, was studied with plant-cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu. An initial BPA concentration of 425 μM in an aqueous solution was degraded by C. chamlagu at 25°C for 2 days in the dark, and two intermediates were then completely dissipated after 10 days.

Biotransformation of (±)-2-methylcyclohexanone by fungi

The biotransformation of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1) using 16 fungal strains and some mushroom cultures was investigated. Fusarium sp. was one of the effective biocatalysts for oxidoreduction of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1). cis-2-Methylcyclohexanol (2a) was isomerized to trans-2-methylcyclohexanol (2b) by Fusarium sp. In addition, the corresponding lactones 3 was obtained by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using Fusarium sp. AP-2 (46%, 94% ee).

Biotransformation of bromosesquiterpenes by marine fungi

Biotransformation of bromosesquiterpenes was investigated with two types of fungi, Rhinocladiella atrovirens NRBC 32362 and also Rhinocladiella sp. K-001, isolated from the Okinawan brown alga Stypopodium zonale. R. atrovirens NRBC 32362 converted aplysistatin 1 into three compounds 5alpha-hydroxyaplysistatin 4, 5alpha-hydroxyisoaplysistatin 5 and 9beta-hydroxyaplysistatin 6. Transformation of 1, palisadin A 2 and 12-hydroxypalisadin B 3 by Rhinocladiella sp. K-001 gave two compounds, 3,4-dihydroaplysistatin 7 and 9,10-dehydrobromopalisadin A 8.