and polar groups comprised within their structure therefore phases I enzymes are less active than phase II (conjugation) enzymes. Metabolism of flavonoids Flavonols In flavonols, an hydroxyl group is available in the 3- position allowing the glycosylation at that position. The biotransformation of quercetin yields three metabolites, including quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and isorhamnetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Glucosylation and O-methylation are involved in the process. Flavones In flavones, there is no hydroxyl group available at the 3- position. Conjugation, in the form of sulfation occurs at the 7- or 4'- positions. Apigenin and chrysin are also transformed by C. elegans and produce apigenin 7-sulfate, apigenin 7,4′-disulfate, chrysin 7-sulfate. Sulfation also occurs on naringenin and produces naringenin-7-sulfate. Glucosylation may nevertheless occur but in 3'- position, as happens during the microbial transformation of psiadiarabin and its 6-desmethoxy analogue, 5,3′ dihydroxy-7,2′,4′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone, by Cunninghamella elegans NRRL 1392 that gives the 3′-glucoside conjugates of the two flavones. flavanones As in flavones, there is no hydroxyl groups available at the 3- position for glycosylation in flavanones. Therefore, sulfation occurs at the 7- position. In compounds like 7-methoxylated flavanones like 7-O-methylnaringenin (sakuranetin), demethylation followed by sulfation occur. Metabolism of synthetic phenolics It is also able to degrade synthetic phenolic compounds like bisphenol A. Metabolism of heterocyclic organic compounds Cunninghamella elegans can transform the nitrogen containing compound phthalazine It is also able to oxidize the organosulfur compound dibenzothiophene. Uses in biotechnology Methods for efficient C. elegans genomic DNA isolation and transformation have been developed. The cytochrome P450 of C. elegans has been cloned in Escherichia coli as well as an enolase. Use in bioconversion Techniques employed Cunninghamella elegans can be grown in stirred tank batch bioreactor. Protoplasts cultures have been used. Examples of uses Cunninghamella elegans can be used for phenanthrene bioconversion or for steroid transformation. It has been used to produce isoapocodeine from 10,11-dimethoxyaporphine, triptoquinone from the synthetic abietane diterpene triptophenolide or for the rational and economical bioconversion of antimalarial drug artemisinin to 7beta-hydroxyartemisinin. Environmental biotechnology Cunninghamella elegans has been used in environmental biotechnology for the treatment of textile wastewaters, for instance those discoloured by azo dyes or malachite green. Chitin and chitosan isolated from C. elegans can be used for heavy metal biosorption. Production can be made on yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L. Urban) medium. Strains Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 9245 Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 36112 Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 26269 Cunninghamella elegans NRRL 1393 Cunninghamella elegans IFM 46109 Cunninghamella elegans