title: Metabolic response against sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds by the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor.
abstract: The fungal conversions of sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds were investigated using the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor. The fungus metabolized a series of sulfur compounds--25 structurally related thiophene derivatives--via several different pathways. Under primary metabolic conditions, C. versicolor utilized thiophenes, such as 2-hydroxymethyl-, 2-formyl-, and 2-carboxyl-thiophenes, as a nutrient sulfur source for growth; thus, the fungus degraded these compounds more effectively in a non-sulfur-containing medium than in conventional medium. The product analysis revealed that several redox reactions, decarboxylation reactions, and C-S cleavage reactions were involved in the fungal conversion of non-aromatic thiophenes. On the other hand, benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) skeletons were converted to water-soluble products. All the products and metabolic intermediates were more hydrophilic than the starting substrates. These metabolic actions seemed to be a chemical stress response against exogenously added xenobiotics. These metabolic reactions were optimized under ligninolytic conditions, also suggesting the occurrence of a fungal xenobiotic response. Furthermore, the fungus converted a series of BTs and DBTs via several different pathways, which seemed to be controlled by the chemical structure of the substrates. DBT, 4-methylDBT, 4, 6-dimethylDBT, 2-methylBT, and 7-methylBT were immediately oxidized to their S-oxides. BTs and DBTs with the hydroxymethyl substituent were converted to their xylosides without S-oxidation. Those with carboxyl and formyl substituents were reduced to form a hydroxymethyl group, then xylosidated. These observations strongly suggested the involvement of a fungal substrate-recognition and metabolic response mechanism in the metabolism of sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds by C. versicolor.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamizo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wariishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism; D020072:Polyporales / Q000378:metabolism*; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes; C032175:benzaldehyde