• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.147-149
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• 1999

Biotransformation of exogenous (-)-(4R)-isopiperitenone in cell suspension cultures of Mentha piperita resulted in oxidized products, with (-)-7-hydroxyisopiperitenone being the major compound. The mass of products obtained $unde^{18}O_2$, atmosphere was two units higher than that under normal atmosphere. The biotransformation was inhibited by several cytochrome P450-specific inhibitors as well as by carbon monoxide. Carbon monooxide inhibition was substantially overcome by irradiation of cells with blue light including light at 450nm wavelength. These results suggested that a cytochrome P450-type monooxygenase was involved in the biotransformation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.358-363
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• 1993

The metabolic capability of the cultured cells of peppermint was tested with whole intact cells by feeding appropriate exogenous substrates to the suspension cultures. Conversion of (-)-limonene into any other monoterpenes was not observed with the suspension cultures. (+)-Pulegone was converted into (+)-isomenthone and (-)-menthone, and (-)-menthone into (-)-menthol. The experiments confirmed that the suspension retained most of the menthol biosynthesis pathway in the cell except for a few loci. (-)-Isopiperitenone was transformed into (+)-pulegone, piperitenone, (-)-7-hydroxyisopiperitenone and two unidentified products.