A GENETIC APPROACH TO THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE RIFAMYCINCHROMOPHORE IN NOCARDIA MEDITERRANEI

IV. IDENTIFICATION OF 3-AMINO-5-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID AS A DIRECT PRECURSOR OF THE SEVEN-CARBON AMINO STARTER-UNIT

Abstract

3-Amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid was investigated for its ability to induce rifamycin biosynthesis in an appropriate mutant of Nocardia mediterranei and identified as a direct precursor of the seven-carbon amino starter-unit for the biosynthesis of ansamycins. A model for the biosynthesis of different types of ansamycins is presented and discussed.