Production of phenolics by immobilized cells of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea: the role of epiphytic bacteria

• María Blanch ^[1] ; Yolanda Blanco ^[1] ; Blanca Fontaniella ^[1] ; María-Estrella Legaz ^[1] ; Carlos Vicente ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Madrid, España

     
• Localización: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology, ISSN 1139-6709, Vol. 4, Nº. 2, 2001, págs. 89-92
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Immobilized lichen cells from the thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, supplied with acetate as the only source of carbon, continuously produced phenolic substances, atranorin and physodic acid, over 23 days. Epiphytic bacteria associated with the lichen thallus grew actively, probably using both acetate and reduced compounds supplied by lichen cells, since their active growth was avoided by including 10 μM 3,3′-dichlorophenyl-1,1′ dimethylurea in the bath solution. Penicillin largely impeded the growth of epiphytic bacteria and decreased phenolic production, which was recovered only at the end of the experimental period, just when the bacteria started a slow, but active growth. We suggest the cooperation of epiphytic bacteria in the biosynthesis of both atranotrin and physodic acid.