Abyssomicin C—A Polycyclic Antibiotic from a Marine <i>Verrucosispora</i> Strain as an Inhibitor of the <i>p</i> ‐Aminobenzoic Acid/Tetrahydrofolate Biosynthesis Pathway

Abstract

Plumbing the depths: Abyssomicin C (structure shown) from ocean floor sediment is a novel antibiotic that inhibits the biosynthesis steps between chorismate and p-aminobenzoic acid. Its activity may be explained by the irreversible trapping of the targeted enzymes by a Michael addition. Blocking the biosynthesis of p-aminobenzoic acid may be one approach to developing new antibiotics.