CYCLIZATION OF PHENYLACETYL-L-CYSTEINYL-D-VALINE TO BENZYLPENICILLIN USING CELL-FREE EXTRACTS OF STREPTOMYCES CLAVULIGERUS

Abstract

Benzylpenicillin, a typical antibiotic produced by some species of fungi, was obtained by direct cyclization of the heteropeptide phenylacetyl-L-cysteinyl-D-valine using cell-free extracts of Streptomyces clavuligerus. This is the first description of evidence of the synthesis of benzylpenicillin from a non natural molecule using a bacterial enzyme.