Biosynthesis of zymonic acid in trichosporon capitatum

Abstract

Zymonic acid (1) is an artefact derived by decarboxylation from a natural metabolite [probably (3)], the biosynthesis of which from labelled precursors has been studied: malonic and methylmalonic acids are incorporated into different portions of the metabolite molecule, and from studies with labelled acetates and labelled glucoses, it is inferred that the metabolite arises from a derivative of methylmalonate and from a C₃ unit, probably tartronate (4) or a close derivative.