Role of D-[4-14C]erythrose and [3-14C]pyruvate in the biosynthesis of the meta-C–C6–N unit of the mitomycin antibiotics in Streptomyces verticillatus

Abstract

D-[4-¹⁴C]Erythrose but not [3-¹⁴C]pyruvate labels C-7 of the mitomycins significantly, while [7-¹⁴C]-3-dehydroquinic acid and D-[1,6-¹⁴C₂]shikimic acid methyl ester are not incorporated, leading to the suggestion that 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonic acid 7-phosphate, or a close relative, may act as an intermediate in the formation of the meta-C–C₆–N unit of these antibiotics.