Exometabolites of the fungal isolates (Genus Penicillium, Section Chrysogena) from low-temperature ecotopes

Abstract

Exometabolites of 22 strains of the genus Penicillium, section Chrysogena isolated from low-temperature ecotopes of various geographical regions were analyzed. The ecotopes included permafrost deposits, frozen volcanic ash, a fossil horse, cryopeg, and water from an Antarctic lake. The studied strains were found to contain exometabolites belonging to the groups of penicillins (penicillin G), chrysogines (chrysogine, 3-acetyl-quinazolin-4(3H)-one, 2-pyruvoylaminobenzamide, 2-(2-hydroxypropionylamino)-benzamide, and questiomycin A), roquefortines (3,12-dihydroroquefortine, roquefortine, glandicolines A and B, and meleagrine), xanthocillins (xanthocillin X), and simple tryptophan derivatives (N-acetyltriptamine and indoleacetic acid). In five P. chrysogenum strains and three P. nalgiovense strains, a correlation was found between exometabolite spectra and morphological characteristics of the cultures isolated from modern ecotopes. For other strains species, identification was based on morphological features due to the absence of biosynthesis of penicillin G on the major chemotaxonomic markers for these species.