Re-investigation of the biosynthesis of naphthoquinoneimine: re-optimization of metabolic production conditions by the fungus Aspergillus sp. DLM38.

• Grant number: 25/11382-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Grantee: Julia Farias Ikenaga
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/17721-9 - The role of Chemistry in holobiont adaptation, AP.TEM

Abstract

Alpha-aminopyrones are metabolites produced exclusively by fungi of the genus Aspergillus.Isopyrophene and naphthoquinoneimine are alpha-aminopyrones previously isolated by researchers ofthe research group coordinated by Prof. Berlinck. During the previous analyses, carried out duringthe study of the biosynthetic pathways of both compounds, the incorporation of isotopicallyenriched phenylalanine and acetate was not observed, which would be expected. Thus, the presentproject aims to begin a re-evaluation of the results previously obtained: to grow the Aspergillus sp.DLM38 strain under previously established conditions to confirm the production of isopyropheneand naphthoquinoneimine, and; to investigate of the fungal mycelium, instead of investigating themycelium + the culture medium, to observe the production of isopyrophene andnaphthoquinoneimine. Then, to perform a growth curve of the fungus Aspergillus sp. DLM38 withthe quantification of the production of isopyrophene and naphthoquinoneimine by the mycelium.These results will be compared with the results of previous experiments in order to verify whetherthe production of these compounds could be increased or not.