Analysis of terpenoids produced by endophytic fungi associated with Cupressus lusitanica

• Grant number: 06/05903-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2007
• End date: February 28, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edson Rodrigues Filho
• Grantee: Luciana da Silva Amaral
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

“ANALYSIS OF TERPENOIDS PRODUCED BY ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH Cupressus lusitanica”. The present project, proposed for the Master degree of Luciana da Silva Amaral, have as the main goal the study of the secondary metabolism of endophytic fungi associated with Cupressus lusitanica, with emphasis on the terpenoid compounds. Species of Cupressus are producers of terpenoids. Some phytopatogenic fungi found in Cupressus species produces phytotoxins very aggressive to the host plant. Surprisingly, these toxins are also terpenoid compounds. This terpenoid producing ability appears to be a specialized strategy adopted by the fungi to infect the plant. Along with the opportunities for interpretations of the biochemical ecology regard plant-fungi associations, the substances involved on these associations shows great potentials to be used as antibiotics. In a preliminary work conducted at LaBioMMI – DQ/UFSCar, it was found that only few fungi are isolated from health leaves of Cupressus. In the present Master degree project these fungi will be isolated and cultivated in artificial culture medium; the compounds produced will be analyzed, isolated and identified. Analytical methodologies based on GCMS e LCMS, will be used for a comparison of the chemical profile of the isolated microorganisms and the host plant. Extracts and purified substances will be tested as antibiotics using the bioassays implemented at LaBioMMi. (AU)