C35-Terpenes from Bacillus subtilis KSM 6-10

Four C(35)-terpenes (1-4) were isolated from a liquid culture of Bacillus subtilis KSM 6-10. Compounds 1 and 2, tetraprenyl-beta-curcumene and tetraprenyl-alpha-curcumene, respectively, were previously isolated from a spore preparation of the same species, whereas 3 and 4 are new C(35)-terpenols. The C(35)-terpenols (3 and 4) possess polycyclic skeletons. We propose that the C(35)-terpenols (3 and 4) are formed by cyclization of the acyclic C(35)-terpenes (1 and 2). Because only trace amounts of C(35)-terpenols 3 and 4 were found in the spore in contrast to the vegetative cells of B. subtilis KSM 6-10, it is assumed that the expression of terpene cyclase is not related to sporulation, as has been observed by other researchers in a different strain.