THE INDUCTION OF TAXOL PRODUCTION IN THE ENDOPHYTIC FUNGUS - PERICONIA SP FROM TORREYA-GRANDIFOLIA

A Periconia sp was isolated from Torreya grandifolia (a relative of ye w that does not synthesize taxol) near Huangshan National Park in the People's Republic of China. This fungus, not previously known as a tre e endophyte, was isolated from the inner bark of a small lower limb, W hen freshly isolated from the tree and placed in a semi-synthetic medi um, the fungus produced readily detectable quantities of the anticance r drug taxol, Other taxol-producing endophytes were also isolated from this source, The production of taxol by Periconia sp was demonstrated unequivocally via spectroscopic and immunological methods, However, s uccessive transfers of the fungus in semi-synthetic medium resulted in gradual attenuation until low production occurred even though fungal growth was relatively unaffected. Several compounds, known previously as activators of microbial metabolism, including serinol, p-hydroxyben zoic acid, and a mixture of phenolic acids, were capable of fully or p artially restoring taxol production to otherwise taxol-attenuated cult ures, The compound with the most impressive ability to activate taxol production was benzoic acid at 0.01 mM, Benzoic acid was not a taxol p recursor.