Production of phenolics by immobilized cells of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuraceathe role of epiphytic bacteria
- María Blanch Rojo 1
- Yolanda Blanco 1
- Blanca Fontaniella 1
- María Estrella Legaz González 1
- Carlos Vicente 1
- 1 Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
ISSN: 1618-1905
Año de publicación: 2001
Volumen: 4
Número: 2
Páginas: 89-92
Tipo: Artículo
Otras publicaciones en: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology
Resumen
Immobilized lichen cells from the thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, supplied with acetate as the only source of carbon, continuously produced phenolic substances, atranorin and physodic acid, over 23 days. Epiphytic bacteria associated with the lichen thallus grew actively, probably using both acetate and reduced compounds supplied by lichen cells, since their active growth was avoided by including 10 μM 3,3′-dichlorophenyl-1,1′ dimethylurea in the bath solution. Penicillin largely impeded the growth of epiphytic bacteria and decreased phenolic production, which was recovered only at the end of the experimental period, just when the bacteria started a slow, but active growth. We suggest the cooperation of epiphytic bacteria in the biosynthesis of both atranotrin and physodic acid.