Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi.

Abstract in brief

• The study investigates the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Termitomyces fungi, especially focusing on sesquiterpenoids like drimane sesquiterpenes, which differ between mushrooms and other fungal forms.
• Researchers isolated five drimane sesquiterpenes, synthesized one called drimenol, and tested their antimicrobial properties to understand their potential roles in fungal defense and their ecological significance.
• In addition, enzymes involved in terpene biosynthesis were identified through heterologous expression, revealing that while they do not produce the entire drimane structure, they generate related monocyclic sesquiterpenes called nectrianolins, contributing to understanding fungal chemical pathways.