Phomactins are fungal diterpenes known to inhibit the platelet activating factor receptor. Phomactins have also been shown to reduce the repopulation of tumor cells after radiation therapy, suggesting that they could be used as adjuvants in cancer therapy. To date, only four fungal strains have been described to produce phomactins, including the marine strain <i>Biatriospora</i> sp. CBMAI 1333. In this study, we applied metabolomics to investigate the production of phomactins in different growth media. Phomactin diversity and yield were considered in two sets of experiments. A combination of UPLC-HRMS/MS analyses, GNPS molecular networking, and Gephi for data visualization allowed the identification of growth media inducing maximum diversity of phomactin-like compounds. Results also showed a plethora of potentially new phomactin variants and analogs not previously detected in extracts of this fungus. Relative phomactin yields were assessed by comparative metabolomic analyses of UPLC-HRMS data on the XCMS Online platform. Altogether, results indicated three promising growth media, namely 2% malt broth, 3% malt broth, and minimal medium, inducing high yields and diversity of phomactins. This metabolomics-guided investigation provided means for the assertive selection of media for the large-scale growth of the fungal strain.

Metabolomics for improving and diversifying the production of phomactins by the cultured fungus <i>Biatriospora</i> sp.

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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Metabolomics for improving and diversifying the production of phomactins by the cultured fungus Biatriospora sp.