Specificity and transformations of the trisporic acid series of fungal sex hormones

Chromatographic and spectroscopic characterizations and comparative bioassay data are given for trisporic acid A, the separate 9-cis- and 9-trans-isomers of trisporic acids B and C, and trisporol C, all obtained from 'mated' (plus and minus) cultures of Blakeslea trispora. All five acids show comparable levels of hormone activity on both the mating types of Mucor mucedo, whereas natural trisporol C more specifically affects a plus strain and the laboratory-derived methyl esters are minus-specific. Similarly plus and minus strains of B. trispora convert trisporol C and the esters into trisporic acids at different rates, and they effect different transformations of administered methyl 14C-trisporate C.