Multiple forms of O‐methyltransferase involved in the microbial conversion of abietic acid into methyl abietate by Mycobacterium sp.

Six out of seven tested strains of mycobacteria transformed abietic acid to methyl abietate in shake culture. The conversion carried out by Mycobacterium sp. MB 3683 was induced by the substrate and stimulated by methionine. Fractionation of the cell extract of Mycobacterium sp. MB 3683 on DEAE cellulose, Ultrogel AcA 44 and MONO Q resulted in the separation of three distinct methyltransferase activities which could also esterify palmitic acid. The separated forms of the methyltransferase exhibited different activities towards these two substrates.