Taxol Production by an Endophytic Fungus, Fusarium redolens, Isolated from Himalayan Yew

Abstract

Different endophytic fungi isolated from Himalayan Yew plants were tested for their ability to produce taxol. The BAPT gene (C-13 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acetyl transferase) involved in the taxol biosynthetic pathway was used as a molecular marker to screen taxol-producing endophytic fungi. Taxol extracted from fungal strain TBPJ-B was identified by HPLC and MS analysis. Strain TBPJ-B was identified as Fusarium redolens based on the morphology and internal transcribed spacer region of nrDNA analysis. HPLC quantification of fungal taxol showed that F. redolens was capable of producing 66 μg/l of taxol in fermentation broth. The antitumour activity of the fungal taxol was tested by potato disc tumor induction assay using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the tumor induction agent. The present study results showed that PCR amplification of genes involved in taxol biosynthesis is an efficient and reliable method for prescreening taxol-producing fungi. We are reporting for the first time the production of taxol by F. redolens from Taxus baccata L. subsp. wallichiana (Zucc.) Pilger. This study offers important information and a new source for the production of the important anticancer drug taxol by endophytic fungus fermentation.

Molecular Approaches to Screen Bioactive Compounds from Endophytic Fungi

“…Each of the isolated endophytic fungus is required to be cultured and then extracted with different organic solvents for the isolation of the metabolites. All the extracts are then processed through various stages such as testing for the biological activity using various activity specific bioassays, purification of molecules responsible for the tested biological activity (Stierle et al, 1993; Zhou et al, 2007; Bedair and Sumner, 2008; Aly et al, 2010; Garyali et al, 2013; Roopa et al, 2015). These bioactive compounds can be identified at the molecular levels by using various spectroscopic techniques coupled with precision chromatographic equipment.…”

“…The possibility of acquisition of the capacity to produce these metabolites by endophytes from the host is supported by the fact that these endophytes harbor similar biosynthetic pathway and genes encoding enzymes catalyzing various steps as that of the host (Chandra, 2012). There are a few studies showing that the fungi isolated from the particular host produce active principle produced by that host (Stierle et al, 1993; Puri et al, 2005, 2006; Kusari et al, 2009, 2011; Nadeem et al, 2012; Garyali et al, 2013). The endophytic fungi producing such compounds have also shown the presence and expression of the similar homologous genes involved the biosynthesis of respective compounds in their host (Jennewein et al, 2001).…”

Enhancement of taxol production from endophytic fungus Fusarium redolens

“…Taxol production was determined from culture filtrate and mycelium as described in Garyali et al [19].…”

“…Taxol production by Fusarium redolens, isolated from the inner bark of Taxus baccata has been tested for its antitumorigenic activity using potato disc tumor induction assay [19]. In the present investigation, after optimization of fermentation conditions and medium composition, yield of taxol increased from 66 to 198 µg/L which is three fold higher than that of unoptimized medium.…”

Plant Bioactive Metabolites and Drugs Produced by Endophytic Fungi of Spermatophyta

“…mairei [238] Fusarium oxysporum Rhizophora annamalayana [239] Fusarium proliferatum T. media [232] Fusarium redolens Taxus wallichiana [240] Fusarium solani Taxus celebica T. chinensis…”