title: The enzymology of clavam and carbapenem biosynthesis.
abstract: The enzyme-catalysed reactions involved in formation of the bicyclic clavam and carbapenem nuclei, including beta-amino acid and beta-lactam formation, are discussed and compared with those involved in penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthesis. The common role of unusual oxidation reactions in the biosynthetic pathways and the lack of synthetic reagents available to effect them are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Oxford Centre for Molecular Sciences, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK.
authors.forename: Nadia J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kershaw
authors.forename: Matthew E C
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Caines
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sleeman
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schofield
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015780:Carbapenems; D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D004798:Enzymes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D047090:beta-Lactams; C483963:clavam