Biotransformation of protriptyline by filamentous fungi and yeasts

1. The potential of various fungi to metabolize protriptyline tan extensive ly used antidepressant was studied to investigate similarities between mamm alian and microbial metabolism. 2. Metabolites produced by each organism were isolated by high-pressure liq uid chromatography and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass sp ectrometry. The metabolites identified in one or more fungi were 2-hydroxyp rotriptyline, N-desmethylprotriptyline, N-acetylprotriptyline, N-acetoxypro triptyline, 14-oxo-N-desmethylprotriptyline, 2-hydroxy-acetoxyprotriptyline and 3-5-hydrodibenzo[bf][7]annulen-5-propanoic acid. 3. Among 27 filamentous fungi and yeast species screened, Fusarium oxysporu m f. sp. pini 2380 metabolized 97% of the protriptyline added. Several othe r fungi screened gave significant metabolism of protriptyline, including Cu nninghamella echinulata ATCC 42616 (67%), C. elegans ATCC 9245 (17%), C. el egans ATCC 36112 (22%,), C phaeospora ATCC 22110 (50%), F. moniliforme MRC- 826 (33%) and F. solani 3179 (12%) 4. F. oxysporum f, sp. pini produced phase I and phase II metabolites and t hus is a suitable microbial model for protriptyline metabolism.