Biosynthetic Studies on Antibiotics

Abstract

Abstract The intricacies of the synthetic chemistry executed by living cells in the assembly of complex organic natural products can be probed in great detail by stable‐isotope labeling in conjunction with sophisticated 2D and multiple‐quantum NMR methods of analysis. Mechanistic details are revealed by unraveling the “cryptic” stereochemistry of biosynthetic reactions with the aid of stereospecific isotope labeling. Analysis of blocked mutants and cloning of biosynthetic genes provides new tools for the study of biosynthetic pathways and for the exploitation of the chemical capabilities of living organisms.