Preliminary investigation of furanocoumarin metabolism by Aspergillus niger

Authors: Myung, Kyung; Narciso, Jan; Manthey, John

Submitted to: Florida State Horticultural Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2007
Publication Date: 5/10/2007
Citation: Myung, K., Narciso, J., Manthey, J. 2007. Preliminary investigation of furanocoumarin metabolism by Aspergillus niger. Florida State Horticultural Society Meeting. Abstract No. HP20.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fungi metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a number of detoxification processes. Prevalent fungal detoxification pathways for aromatic compounds include the formation of sulfate and glycosidated conjugates. Such fungal metabolism has been extensively studied as models of mammalian metabolism. Furanocoumarins, a class of aromatic compounds, are important due to their biological activities and clinical applications. The 6',7'-epoxybergamottin (EB), 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin (DHB), and bergamottin (BM) are three major furanocoumarins found in grapefruit and their metabolism in humans is involved in the "grapefruit/drug interactions". Thus far, the metabolism by fungi of these furanocoumarins has received little attention. In our study, the metabolism by Aspergillus niger of EB, DHB, and BM and other furanocoumarins, such as bergaptol (BT), xanthotoxol (XT), 5-methoxypsoralen, and 8-methoxypsoralen, has been investigated. Aspergillus niger was observed to metabolize EB, DHB, BM, BT, and XT into a water-soluble conjugate using hydrocarbon cleavage enzyme- and arylsulfotransferase-like activities. The enzymes involved in these metabolisms are under investigation, as well as the structural identifications of these metabolites.