Pearce C J, Doyle T W, Forenza S, Lam K S, Schroeder D R
Bristol-Myers Pharmaceutical Research and Development Division, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492.
J Nat Prod. 1988 Sep-Oct;51(5):937-40. doi: 10.1021/np50059a020.
Experimental evidence is presented to demonstrate that the antitumor-antibiotic rebeccamycin is biosynthesized by Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes from one unit of glucose, one of methionine, and two of tryptophan. Evidence is presented that suggests that the alpha-amino group of neither tryptophan unit provides the nitrogen of the phthalimide system.