Microbial biotransformation of monoterpenes results in the formation of many valuable compounds. Many microorganisms can be used to carry out extremely specific conversions using substrates of low commercial value. Absidia corulea MTCC 1335 was examined for its ability to transform α-Pinene enantiomers. The substrates (-)-α-Pinene and (+)-α-Pinene converted to α-terpineol and isoterpineol, were detected in gas chromatographic analysis. The Biotransformation kinetics of the oxidized products were analysed using GC-MS. With both the substrates the products formed were similar and not much difference in the rate of transformation was observed, suggesting no enantioselectivity of organism towards the substrate.
Keywords: (+)-α-Pinene; (−)-α-Pinene; Absidia corulea; Biotransformation; GC–MS; α-Terpineol.