PURPOSE: A strain in nocardia is cultured in a medium containing mixed isoprenoid hydrocarbons as the major carbon source to collect the corresponding alcohol derivative from the culture mixture.
CONSTITUTION: A strain of Nocardia BPM1613 (FERM-1609) is cultured in a medium containing mixed isoprenoid hydrocarbons consisting of norpristane, pristane, prestene-1 and phytane, as the major carbon source, further a nitrogen source such as ammonia or potassium nitrate, inorganic salts and vitamins. The culture medium is kept alkaline and the cultivation is conducted aerobically. The resultant culture mixture is made acidic and extracted with a solvent such as ether or benzene. The extract is subjected to silica-gel chromatography and developed with a solvent such as peteroleum ether or benzene to give alcohol derivatives of isoprenoid hydrocarbons such as 2,6,10-trimethyl-1-pentadecanol.
SATOU AKIO
HIGASHIHARA TAKANORI
FUKUOKA SEIICHI
