On the biotransformation of ent-trachylobane to ent-kaur-11-ene diterpenes
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Updated: May 30, 2026

Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Braulio M Fraga1, Victoria Gonzalez-Vallejo, Ricardo Guillermo
1Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Avenida Astrofisico F. Sánchez 3, 38206-La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. bmfraga@ipna.csic.es
Abstract:
The microbiological transformation of trachinodiol (1) by the fungus Mucor plumbeus afforded the corresponding 1α, 2α, 3α, and 17-hydroxy derivatives (2-4 and 6), respectively. 7β,16α,18-Trihydroxy-ent-kaur-11-ene (sicanatriol) (5) was also obtained in this feeding. The biotransformation of 1 to give 5 by this fungus may occur by enzymatic abstraction of a hydrogen atom, allylic to the cyclopropane ring, and subsequent cleavage of this ring. This route is similar to that postulated by us in plants of the genus Sideritis, where ent-trachylobane and ent-kaur-11-ene diterpenes coexist. This study confirms that hydroxylation of diterpenes by M. plumbeus occurs preferably at ring A carbons.
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