Bioproduction of [14C]deoxyphomenone, A fungistatic metabolite of the hyperparasite Dicyma pulvinata

Abstract Deoxyphomenone is a fungistatic sesquiterpene produced by the fungal hyperparasite Dicyma pulvinata . A study of the kinetics of the synthesis of this toxin was achieved by the use of [U- 14 C]acetate. Labelled deoxyphomenone was detectable in the culture filtrate one hour after inoculation of the medium with spores of D. pulvinata . Optimum incorporation of radioactivity in the toxin occurred in the early phase of exponential growth. Consequently, maximum availability of deoxyphomenone is found in the young parts of the hyphae in zones where contact between the hyperparasite and parasite occur. This underlines the role which the toxin can play in early phases of hyperparasitism.