The biosynthesis of the pyrrolylpolyene rumbrin (1) in the fungus Auxarthron umbrinum was elucidated using feeding studies with labelled precursors. Incorporation of stable isotopes from [15N]-proline, [13C]-methionine and [13C]-acetate confirmed that these were the precursors of the pyrrole moiety, methyl groups, and backbone of rumbrin, respectively. Label-dilution experiments with pyrrole-2-carboxylate confirmed it was a direct precursor in the biosynthesis of rumbrin. Both 3- and 4-chloropyrrolecarboxylates were also accepted as precursors in polyene production.
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Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
