One metabolite, two pathways: convergence of polypropionate biosynthesis in fungi and marine molluscs.
Structural similarity or even the identity of polyketide compounds does not necessarily imply unique biosynthesis. Feeding experiments with a (13)C labeled precursor establish that the C(3) units in 7-methyl-cyercene-1 (1) are derived from intact propionate in the marine mollusc Ercolania funerea. The same compound in the terrestrial fungus Leptosphaeria maculans/Phoma lingam is synthesized by an acetate/SAM pathway thus proving for the first time metabolic convergence of polyketide biosynthesis in eukaryotes. Traditional (1)H-(13)C NMR correlation spectroscopy has been successfully applied to estimate (13)C incorporation in biosynthetic experiments.
CNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy. adele.cutignano@icb.cnr.it
Adele
A
Cutignano
Guido
G
Villani
Angelo
A
Fontana
D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D061065:Polyketides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D061065:Polyketides; D011422:Propionates