The invention provides a general strategy and procedure for the microbial conversion of ricinoleic acid to produce a new, novel trihydroxy unsaturated fatty acid, 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (TOD). The invention also provides that TOD is not only produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3, a patented microorganism that produces a patented dihydroxy unsaturated fatty acid, 7,10-dihydroxy-8 (E)-octadecenoic acid, but also produced by a number of other strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The invention is a unique example of utilizing crop components (vegetable oil and its fatty acids) to produce new, value-added products. TOD has a chemical structure which resembles several known antifungal compounds that would fight against fungal invasion and increase crop yields.

The bioconversion procedure of this invention is environmentally friendly and highly specific as compared to a chemical process. It can also be upscaled into a continuous process of TOD production, or TOD can be used as a starting chemical for obtaining derivatives with enhanced potency of antifungal activity.

Reference:

Please refer to USPN 6,310,007 (Docket #0082.99), "Production of 7,10,12-Trihydroxy-8(E)-Octadecenoic Acid," which issued on October 30, 2001.
Foreign rights are not available.

Inventors:

Tsung Min Kuo Oil Chemical Research, NCAUR Peoria, Illinois 61604 (309) 681-6257 / Fax: (309) 681-6340

Ching T. Hou (Same address as first inventor) (309) 681-6263 / Fax: (309) 681-6340