Methylantimony compound formation in the medium of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis cultures: (CD3)-C-13-L-methionine as a source of the methyl group

The filamentous fungus Scopulariopsis brevicaulis produces nonvolatile meth ylantimony compounds (found in the medium) when grown in antimony(III)-rich medium. To investigate the methyl source, (CD3)-C-13-labelled L-methionine was added to the growth medium. After one month sodium borohydride reducti on of media samples produced dimethylstibine and trimethylstibine. The meth ylstibines were separated on a packed GC column and obtained as gaseous fra ctions. Analysis of the methylstibines, in the gaseous fractions, by CGC-MS (lion-trap) established (CD3)-C-13 incorporation in both the trimethyl-and dimethyl-antimony compounds. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.