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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 1998, p. 3707-3712, Vol. 64, No. 10
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Effect of Butyrolactone I on the Producing Fungus, Aspergillus terreus

Timothy G. Schimmel,^1,2,* Allen D. Coffman,¹ and Sarah J. Parsons²

Technical Operations, Merck and Co., Inc., Elkton, Virginia 22827,¹ and Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908²

Received 5 August 1997/Accepted 22 July 1998

Butyrolactone I [-oxo--(p-hydroxyphenyl)--(p-hydroxy-m-3,3-dimethylallyl-benzyl)--methoxycarbonyl--butyrolactone] is produced as a secondary metabolite by Aspergillus terreus. Because small butyrolactone-containing molecules act as self-regulating factors in some bacteria, the effects of butyrolactone I on the producing organism were studied; specifically, changes in morphology, sporulation, and secondary metabolism were studied. Threefold or greater increases in hyphal branching (with concomitant decreases in the average hyphal growth unit), submerged sporulation, and secondary metabolism were observed when butyrolactone I was added to cultures of A. terreus. Among the secondary metabolites whose production was increased by this treatment was the therapeutically important compound lovastatin. These findings indicate that butyrolactone I induces morphological and sporulation changes in A. terreus and enhances secondary metabolite production in a manner similar to that previously reported for filamentous bacteria.

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^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Technical Operations, Merck and Co., Inc., P.O. Box 7, Elkton, VA 22827. Phone: (540) 298-4054. Fax: (540) 298-4817. E-mail: schimmel{at}merck.com.

This article is dedicated to the memory of William Saum, whose untimely passing was a great loss for family, colleagues, and friends. He will be remembered for his great dedication to helping others.

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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 1998, p. 3707-3712, Vol. 64, No. 10
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

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