Rapid conversion of ferulic acid to 4-vinyl guaiacol and vanillin metabolites by Debaryomyces hansenii

Abstract

Debaryomyces hansenii, an isolated yeast strain metabolized ferulic acid to an intermediate compound, namely 4-vinyl guaiacol, by the non oxidative decarboxylation of its side chain. This bioconversion is a highly value added process as 4-vinyl guaiacol is nearly 40 times costlier than ferulic acid. The major degradation products were isolated and identified by thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Debaryomyces produced 1470 mg l(-1) of vinyl guaiacol at the tenth hour itself, corresponding to a molar yield of 95% while the production of vanillin reached a maximum of 169 mg l(-1) at the fifth hour.