BIOSYNTHESIS OF AXENOMYCIN-D - INCORPORATION OF C-13-LABELED PRECURSORS INTO THE MENADIONE CHROMOPHORE, DEOXYSUGARS AND THE AXENOLIDE

Experiments on the biosynthesis of the menadione chromophore of axenomycin D in Streptomyces lisandri resulted in the specific incorporation of label from L-[C-13-Me]methionine, [1-C-13]propionate, [2,3-C-13(2)]propionate, [3-C-13]propionate, [U-C-13(3)]glycerol and [U-C-13(6)]glucose. The data indicate that the menadione chromophore is derived from a metabolite of the shikimate pathway. The mode of incorporation shows, however, that the biosynthesis of the menadione chromophore of axenomycins differs from the biosynthesis of the menadione chromophore of menaquinones.