Studies on the biosynthesis of antibiotics

Abstract

In the framework of studies on the biosynthesis of several antibiotics, specifically asukamycin, acarbose, reductiomycin, actinorhodin, and granaticin, a variety of different approaches to biosynthetic problems are illustrated. These include multiple labeling with stable isotopes in conjunction with modern methods of nmr analysis, as illustrated by the development of a new triple-quantum 2D-INADEQUATE experiment for biosynthetic studies, the use of stereochemical probes, as illustrated by the synthesis and stereochemical analysis of chiral [13C, 2H]malonate, and combinations of genetic and chemical approaches, as illustrated by examples of the production of new hybrid antibiotics by genetic engineering.