title: A novel one-step microbial transformation of betulin to betulinic acid catalysed by Cunninghamella blakesleeana.
abstract: Betulinic acid and its derivatives are potential bioactive compounds present in nature. This study investigated the biotransformation of betulin to betulinic acid by Cunninghamella blakesleeana cells. LC-MS analysis demonstrated that betulin could be transformed into at least five products from cultured C. blakesleeana cells, among which betulinic acid was the most important. The presented method provides an attractive alternative approach to chemical synthesis, because is less time-consuming and more environmentally friendly. C. blakesleeana can transform betulin into potent derivatives with high pharmacological activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Teng-Yang
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ruo-Si
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Qi-He
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guo-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D020093:Cunninghamella / Q000378:metabolism*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; C002503:betulin; D000094062:Betulinic Acid