title: The biosynthesis and catabolism of the maleic anhydride moiety of stipitatonic acid.
abstract: A series of directed knockout experiments, combined with an in vitro assay of pathway components, has elucidated for the first time the chemical steps involved in the biosynthesis of the tropolone class of fungal maleic anhydrides. The pathway involves the stepwise oxidation of aldehyde and methyl carbon atoms to form a 1,2-dicarboxylate. A hydrolase-catalyzed interconversion of this and the corresponding maleic anhydride, followed by decarboxylation of the diacid leads to the pathway's final product of stipitatic acid.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS (UK).
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: al Fahad
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abood
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Russell J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014334:Tropolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D014334:Tropolone
keywords: biosynthesis; fungi; maleic anhydride; tropolones