The biosynthesis of roquefortine. An investigation of acetate and mevalonate incorporation using high field n.m.r. spectroscopy

Abstract

The high field ¹³C n.m.r. Spectra of roquefortine derived from [1,2-¹³C₂]acetate and [2,3-¹³C₂]mevalonic acid lactone exhibit previously unobserved couplings, with shed light on the mode of incorporation of the isopentenyl moiety into roqurfortine; satellite resonances for numerous carbon atoms in the tryptophan-derived portion of [1,2-¹³C₂]acetale-labelled roquefortine, can explained via the operation of the Krebs' cycle and the shikimate pathway.