Microbial Production of Carbon Monoxide from Flavonoids

Abstract

Aspergillus flavus degrades rutin to protocatechuic acid, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid, rutinose and carbon monoxide, the last-named being derived from carbon 3 of the flavonoid molecule^1,2. The extent of distribution of this degradative pathway in microorganisms and the structural requirements for the production of carbon monoxide were determined by comparing the amount of carbon monoxide produced after the growth of micro-organisms on various flavonoid compounds. The cultures studied were grown in sealed flasks of known volume³. A medium containing N—Z amine¹ was used when the substrates tested could be analysed by the aluminium chloride reaction. A synthetic medium⁴ was employed with substrates that were difficult to determine directly and the amount of oxygen consumed was therefore used as the criterion of substrate utilization. Carbon monoxide and oxygen were determined by gas phase chromatography using a molecular sieve column.