Screening of Taxol-producing fungi based on PCR amplification from Taxus

• DOI: 10.1007/s10529-008-9801-7
• Publication Date: 2008-08-16T11:07:30Z
• Authors: Peng Zhang; Peng-peng Zhou; Chen Jiang; Hui Yu; Long-jiang Yu
• Keywords: Phenylpropanoid

Genes coding for 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase and C-13 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acyltransferase were used as molecular markers for screening of Taxol-producing endophytic fungi. Using PCR, three out of 90 endophytic fungi, isolated from Taxus x media and Taxus yunnanensis, gave positive results. These 3 strains, when grown in 300 ml potato/dextrose liquid medium at 25 degrees C for 10 days, contained 100-160 microg Taxol/g dry wt of mycelium.