The biosynthesis of the fungal toxin gliotoxin; the origin of the “extra” hydrogens as established by heavy-isotype labelling and mass spectrometry
Abstract
Phenylalanine, but not o- or m-tyrosine or 2,3-dopa, is incorporated into gliotoxin with very high efficiency, allowing the use of heavy-isotope labelling methods: all five aromatic hydrogens are retained in the incorporation of phenylalanine, and biosynthesis by way of a 2,3-epoxide now appears plausible.