Control of liposidomycin production through precursor-directed biosynthesis

Liposidomycin, a potent inhibitor of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis, represents the main component of a group of over 24 closely related, fatty acyl nucleoside antibiotics produced by Streptomyces. Exogeneously supplied myristic acid or palmitic acid resulted in the almost exclusive production of liposidomycin C-(III) and/or M-(III). Exogeneously supplied [1-13C]-palmitic acid was incorporated directly into liposidomycin M-(III) as judged by the FAB-MS and 13C NMR spectra.