Conversion of zearalenone to zearalenone glycoside by Rhizopus sp

The microbial conversion of zearalenone by various species of fungi was studied. Among them, Rhizopus sp. was the sole fungus which produced a new metabolite from zearalenone in addition to alpha- and beta-zearalenol. The structure of the new metabolite was determined to be zearalenone 4-beta-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of mass, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The results suggest that the mycelium of Rhizopus sp. catalyzes the glycosidation at the C-4 position of zearalenone.