Taxol from Pestalotiopsis microspora, an endophytic fungus of Taxus wallachiana.
Pestalotiopsis microspora was isolated from the inner bark of a small limb of Himalayan yew, Taxus wallachiana, and was shown to produce taxol in mycelial culture. Taxol was identified by spectroscopic and chromatographic comparisons with authentic taxol. Optimal taxol production occurred after 2-3 weeks in still culture at 23 degrees C. [14C]Acetate and [14C]phenylalanine served as precursors for fungal [14C]taxol. These observations on P. microspora are discussed in relation to the biological importance of taxol production by fungi in general.
Strobel
Gary
G
Departments of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Yang
Xianshu
X
Departments of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Sears
Joe
J
Departments of Plant Chemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Kramer
Robert
R
Oncology Drug Discovery, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Pearl River, NY 10965, USA.
Sidhu
Rajinder S
RS
Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc., 9000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
Hess
W M
WM
Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84601, USA.
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001709:Biotechnology; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D017753:Ecosystem; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014197:Trees / Q000382:microbiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010649:Phenylalanine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D019342:Acetic Acid