Rhodococcus erythropolis MTHt3 biotransforms ergopeptines to lysergic acid.

Background: Ergopeptines are a predominant class of ergot alkaloids produced by tall fescue grass endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum or cereal pathogen Claviceps purpurea. The vasoconstrictive activity of ergopeptines makes them toxic for mammals, and they can be a problem in animal husbandry.

Results: We isolated an ergopeptine degrading bacterial strain, MTHt3, and classified it, based on its 16S rDNA sequence, as a strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis (Nocardiaceae, Actinobacteria).

Retention pattern profiling of fungal metabolites on mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak anion exchange stationary phases in comparison to reversed-phase and weak anion exchange separation materials by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry.

Retention properties of 79 fungal metabolites (including neutral, acidic, basic, and amphoteric compounds) were evaluated on distinct mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak anion exchange (RP/WAX)-type stationary phases by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) in gradient as well as in isocratic elution mode. The RP/WAX separation materials were prepared by functionalising thiol-modified silica with N-(10-undecenoyl)-3-aminoquinuclidine and N-(10-undecenoyl)-3-alpha-aminotropane, respectively. To evaluate complementarity in chromatographic selectivity the physico-chemically heterogeneous solute set was analysed also on a RP phase (C(18)), an amino-type WAX phase, and a commercially available RP/WAX-like mixed-mode phase.