Effects of Isopentenyl Alcohol and Its Homologues on the Ubiquinone Production by Various Microorganisms

Abstract

Effects of isopentenyl alcohol and its homologues on the ubiquinone production by various microorganisms were examined. A new method using methionine-methyl (³H) to estimate relative content of ubiquinone in bacterial cells was devised. The results obtained by this method corresponded to those obtained by ordinary method. Isopentenyl alcohol, dimethylallyl alcohol or geraniol enhanced ubiquinone production by Pseudomonas schuylkilliensis when added to the culture media at the final concentration of 1×10^-3M, whereas farnesol and the longer chain homologues were inhibitory to the ubiquinone production. Isopentenyl alcohol was also effective to enhance the ubiquinone production by yeasts and fungi tested when added to their culture media at the final concentration of 1.5×10^-3M. Geraniol or farnesol added were inhibitory to their growth at the same concentration.