Degradation of ferulic acid via 4-vinylguaiacol by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc.

Abstract

Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. metabolizes ferulic acid to a transient intermediate, 4-vinylguaiacol, a compound hitherto not reported in the metabolic pathway of ferulic acid in fungi. The compound was isolated in pure form and identified spectrometrically. 4-Vinylguaiacol was further metabolized to vanillin, vanillic acid, and protocatechuic acid, followed by ortho cleavage of the aromatic ring. The organism was also found to catabolize eugenol and p-coumaric acid, but not cinnamic acid.