| The sequencing of fungal genomes has shown that there are many more secondary metabolism pathways than previously thought. Using a variety of genetic approaches, the Dr. Clay Wang's group of the University of Southern California is starting to identify and structurally characterize the secondary metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans that had been undiscovered from this species. However, the initial isolation of some products, although in sufficient amounts for structural identification by NMR and mass spectrometry, was not adequate for detailed biological studies. Herein is described the large scale isolation and elucidation of the meroterpenoids austinol, and dehydroaustinol, the polyketide asperfuranone, and the fungal steroid ergosterol. |
