This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dionigi, C P Articles by Johnsen, P B Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dionigi, C P Articles by Johnsen, P B Agricola Articles by Dionigi, C P Articles by Johnsen, P B

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1991 December; 57(12): 3429-3432

Effects of farnesol and the off-flavor derivative geosmin on Streptomyces tendae.

Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, Louisiana 70179.

ABSTRACT

Effects of the sesquiterpene farnesol (3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol) and the sesquiterpene derivative geosmin (1,10-trans-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) were investigated in a geosmin-producing actinomycete, Streptomyces tendae. Exposure to 300 microM farnesol reduced biomass (fresh matter) accumulation by 97% compared with biomass accumulation by controls, whereas an equal amount of geosmin did not affect biomass accumulation. Increasing exposure to farnesol corresponded with reduced optical density of the culture, reduced levels of geosmin, and reduced metabolic heat production compared with controls, while exogenous geosmin did not affect these parameters. Geosmin dissipated from unioculated medium more rapidly than farnesol, indicating that in addition to the lower toxicity of geosmin, the actual exposure to geosmin over time may be less than exposure to an equal amount of farnesol. Cultures grown on Actinomyces-B medium contained 99.5% less geosmin and were more sensitive to farnesol than those grown on Hickey-Tresner medium, indicating that geosmin synthesis was associated with reduced sensitivity to farnesol. Consumption of farnesyl moieties during geosmin synthesis may reduce the potential for farnesol-induced inhibition of growth and metabolism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Juttner, F., Watson, S. B. (2007). Biochemical and Ecological Control of Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol in Source Waters. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 4395-4406 [Full Text]  
• Koo, H., Hayacibara, M. F., Schobel, B. D., Cury, J. A., Rosalen, P. L., Park, Y. K., Vacca-Smith, A. M., Bowen, W. H. (2003). Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm accumulation and polysaccharide production by apigenin and tt-farnesol. J Antimicrob Chemother 52: 782-789 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Koo, H., Rosalen, P. L., Cury, J. A., Park, Y. K., Bowen, W. H. (2002). Effects of Compounds Found in Propolis on Streptococcus mutans Growth and on Glucosyltransferase Activity. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 46: 1302-1309 [Abstract] [Full Text]