Production of 2-methylisoborneol by Streptomyces violaceusniger and its transformation by selected species of Pseudomonas.

The effect of glucose, glycerol and yeast-extract (YE) on 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) production by Streptomyces violaceusniger (C4-S strain) was determined. Glycerol as a sole carbon source promoted MIB production was maximum concentration (40.65 microg/l) after 10 days incubation, while glucose favored biomass production. Increasing YE concentration from 0.1 to 1% (W/V) repressed MIB production with 62 and 83% reduction after 10 and 14 days, respectively. Transformation of this odorous compound was investigated using seven different Pseudomonas species. Action of the different Pseudomonas spp. on the C4-S extract was followed at 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours. Pseudomonas spp. 1, 2, 3 and 5 indicated a positive reaction; however, Pseudomonas spp. 4, 6 and 7 showed no effect. These data suggest that 2-methylisoborneol can be transformed by Pseudomonas spp. and the test adopted by this study can be applied for screening organisms for their ability to transform MIB. Copyright 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.