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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Biotransformation of plant secondary metabolite decursin by Mycobacterium sp. PYR1001
Ki-Yeon Kim1, Sanghyun Lee, Chang-Jun Cha
1Department of Biotechnology (BK21 Program), Chung-Ang University, Anseong 456-756, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Decursin and its structural isomer decursinol angelate are major secondary metabolites in the root of Angelica gigas Nakai which possess several chemotherapeutic properties. We isolated bacteria capable of transforming decursin and determined metabolites and biotransformation kinetics. Decursinol angelate was not metabolized to any significant extent. Resting cells of Mycobacterium sp. PYR1001 were able to transform decursin. After 24 h incubation, 5 mM of decursin was completely transformed to a metabolite, the structure of which was determined by NMR and mass spectral analyses to be decursinol. This conversion was shown to be catalyzed by an esterase activity, and the activity was found to be specific for decursin. These results suggest that strain PYR1001 can be successfully used to transform decursin for the production of decursinol, a compound known to have cancer chemopreventive activity.
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