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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256977
Title: Potential Approach of Microbial Conversion to Develop New Antifungal Products of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Author
item BAJPAI, VIVEK - Daegu University
item KANG, SUN-CHUL - Daegu University
item KIM, HAK-RYUL - Kyungpook National University
item Hou, Ching

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Bajpai, V.K., Kang, S., Kim, H., Hou, C.T. 2010. Potential approach of microbial conversion to develop new antifungal products of omega-3 fatty acids. In: Hou, C.T., Shaw, J.F., editors. Biocatalysis and Biomolecular Engineering. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 459-472.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Omega-3/('-3) or n-3 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon-carbon double bond in the n-3 position. n-3 Fatty acids which are important in human nutrition are: a-linolenic acid (18:3, n-3; ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n-3; EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3; DHA). These three polyunsaturates have either 3, 5, or 6 double bonds in a carbon chain of 18, 20, or 22 carbon atoms, respectively. All double bonds are in the cis-configuration. We are now beginning to learn how the microbial conversion of n-3 fatty acids is compatible in developing new value added bioconverted industrial products of n-3 fatty acids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 to combat against plant fungal diseases. There is not much research on the antifungal properties of biconverted products of omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present the progress as to what is known of the biological activities of these bioconverted industrial products of n-3 fatty acids with particular emphasis on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) biconverted products as well as their possible applications in food and agriculture industries to control certain important plant pathogenic fungi. The bioconverted docosahexaenoic acid (bDHA) and bioconverted eicosapentaenoic acid (bEPA) showed strong oxidative activities toward fish oil, and potential antibacterial effect against food spoilage and food borne pathogenic bacteria. These bioconverted products of omega-3 fatty acids were found to exhibit strong antifungal activities. The bioconverted docosahexaenoic acid (bDHA) exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against B. cinerea, C. capsici, F. oxysporum, F. solani, P. capsici, R. solani, and S. sclerotiorum. Also the bioconverted eicosapentaenoic acid (bEPA) had a potential antifungal effect against R. solani, B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, F. solani, P. capsici, S. sclerotiorum, and C. capsici. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Phytophthora capsici, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were found to be 500, 250, 125, 500, 250, 250 µg/ml, respectively. However the MIC values for bEPA against the employed plant pathogenic fungi were 250, 500, 250, 250, 500, and 250 µg/ml, respectively. Microbial conversion "green technology" is a biological process that converts fatty acids into entirely new chemical compounds with antimicrobial or biomedical properties.