Production of Paclitaxel, the Anticancer Compound by some Irradiated Fungal Isolates

Abstract

In the present study, 60 fungal endophytes were isolated from twigs, bark, and mature leaves of different plant species grown at several campuses and cultivated areas in Egypt. Among these isolated endophytic fungi screened for the ability to elaborate paclitaxel on PD broth, two strains were positive for the producing ability of the anticancer compound, paclitaxel. These strains were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus TXD105 and Alternaria tenuissima TER995 and used to study the physiological behavior of paclitaxel biosynthesis under submerged conditions. The potentiality of both fungal strains for further improvement of paclitaxel production using submerged fermentation was applied by mutagenesis through exposure to UV, gamma and microwave radiation. Moreover, studies on the application of immobilization technique for the production of paclitaxel have been demonstrated.