Microbial transformation of antitumor Isatin derivatives by fungi

Abstract

The biotransformation of HKL-2c (1) and HKL-2h (2), the antitumor lead compounds found by our lab, were investigated. Compounds 1 and 2 were individually submitted to incubations with selected fungi Trichoderma koningii AS 3.4290, Trichoderma viride AS 2.2942, Aspergillus flavus AS 3.3950, Aspergillus sydowii AS 3.4258, Aspergillus AS 3.3885, and Aspergillus niger AS 3.3928. The products of hydrolysis from 1 and 2 by Aspergillus AS 3.3885 were identified based on spectroscopic methods. Those fungi, therefore, are useful for mild, selective hydrolysis of an ester of isatin substrates.