Biosynthesis of nocardicin A by Nocardia uniformis subsp. tsuyamanensis. I. Inco oration of 14C-amino acids into nocardicin A by growing cells.

Abstract

The biosynthesis of nocardicin A by Nocardia uniformis subsp. tsuyamanensis was studied. L-Tyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, DL-p-hydroxymandelic acid and L-p-hydroxyphenylglycine have stimulatory effect on the production of nocardicin A. In feeding experiment with 14C-amino acids, L-tyrosine-U-14C, L-serine-U-14C, glycine-U-14C and L-homoserine-U-14C were incorporated into nocardicin A. Tyrosine was incorporated into the two aromatic rings of nocardicin A, serine into the β-lactam ring and homoserine into the 3-amino-3-carboxypropoxy moiety. Thus the precursors of nocardicin A are tyrosine, serine and homoserine.