Aplasmomycin and boromycin are specific inhibitors of the futalosine pathway.

We searched for specific inhibitors of the futalosine pathway, non-canonical pathway of menaquinone biosynthesis operating in Helicobacter pylori, from metabolites produced by actinomycetes. Aplasmomycin, a boron-containing macrodiolide, was isolated from Streptomyces sp. K15-0223 as a specific inhibitor of the futalosine pathway. We also showed boromycin, an analog of aplasmomycin, had similar activity.