The identification of three new biosynthetic intermediates and one further biosynthetic enzyme in the clavulanic acid pathway

Abstract

Labelling experiments are described that identify three new compounds, N²-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine, 5-guanidino-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)pentanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-5-guanidino-2-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)pentanoic acid as biosynthetic precursors of proclavaminic acid and hence clavulanic acid in Streptomyces clavuligerus TCC 27064 and a new amidino hydrolase, which hydrolyses 3-hydroxy-5-guanidino-2-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)pentanoic acid to proclavaminic acid has been characterised.