Metabolism of naphthalene by Cunninghamella elegans

Cunninghamella elegans grown on Sabouraud dextrose broth in the presence of naphthalene produced six metabolites. Each product was isolated and identified by conventional chemical techniques. The major metabolites were 1-naphthol (67.9%) and 4-hydroxy-1-tetralone (16.7%). Minor products isolated were 1,4-naphthoquinone (2.8%), 1,2-naphthoquinone (0.2%), 2-naphthol (6.3%), and trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (5.3%). C. elegans oxidized both 1-naphthol and 1,4-naphthoquinone to 4-hydroxy-1-tetralone. The results suggest that C. elegans oxidizes naphthalene by a sequence of reactions similar to those reported for the mammalian metabolism of this hydrocarbon.