Microorganisms screening for limonene oxidation (original) (raw)

Limonene - a Review: Biosynthetic, Ecological and Pharmacological Relevance

Natural Product Communications

Limonene is one of the most common compounds found in the essential oils of aromatic plants. The occurrence of this monoterpene hydrocarbon in various plant genera could be attributed to its precursory role in the biosynthesis of other monoterpenes and its defensive role against herbivores. Due to the medicinal potential and application in the flavor and fragrance industries, limonene has been extensively investigated. In this paper the biosynthetic, ecological and pharmacological importance of limonene is presented in an attempt to coherently summarize some of the most salient aspects from various studies in a form of a concise review.

Biotransformation of R-(+)- and S-(‒)-limonene by Fusarium oxysporum

2011

In the past few years much work has been done on th e biotransformation of limonene, an inexpensive hydrocarbon monoterpene, which is one of the most w idely distributed terpene in nature. Recently, the strain F. oxysporum 152b has been selected based on its high productio n of extracellular alkaline lipase and other publications have also described the biotransformat ion of R-(+)-limonene into R-(+)-α-terpineol catalysed by the same strain. The main characteristics of this c onversion were described in recent papers but no information deals with the bioconversion of its iso mer, S-(‒)-limonene. Thus, this paper focused on the biotransformation of S-(‒)-limonene by F. oxysporum 152b, partially characterized and compared with th e characteristics involved in α-terpineol production from R-(+)-limonene. In former studies, it was proven tha t the enzyme responsible for the production of α-terpineol by the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene was enantioselective and enantiospecific, has ...