Balansia spp

Many of the intermediates and several of the enzymatic steps involved in the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids have been studied in Claviceps species (e.g., Floss, 1976 Waller and Dermer, 1981 Kozikowski et al., 1988 Shibuya et al., 1990) and are outlined in Figs. 1-3. However, much about the pathway remains to be investigated. A similar pathway is expected in Neotyphodium, Epichloe, and Balansia spp. given their phylogenetic relationship to Claviceps (Glenn et al., 1996 Craven et al., 2001) and the presence of similar DNA sequences for two of the genes in the pathway (described below). 

For many years the distribution of ergot alkaloids was considered to be limited to Claviceps species, especially C. purpurea and cultures of C. paspalum which appeared to be the most effective in the production of alkaloids on an industrial scale. During the last three decades, however, ergot alkaloids has been found in several other fiingi in the Clavicipitaceae such as Balansia spp. and Epichloe typhina 187) and also in Aspergillus and Penicillium species as well as even in higher plants of the family Convol-vulaceae. 

Fig. 4.6 Biosynthesis of ergoline alkaloids III. Formation of eigopeptines illustrated with the example of ergosine occurring in Claviceps purpurea and Ipomoea argyrophylla, respectively ergobalansine, to date not found as a metabolite of Claviceps spp., is a proline-free (highlighted in grey) constituent of the fungal genus Balansia as well as of Ipomoea asarifolia...

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