Pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine antibiotics. Biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic sibiromycin by Streptosporangium sibiricum.

The biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic sibiromycin by Streptosporangium sibiricum requires the construction of four units: the amino sugar from glucose; the anthranilate ring from DL-tryptophan probably via kynurenine; the aromatic methyl group from methionine; the propylidene proline from L-tyrosine with the loss of two aromatic carbons and addition of a C-1 from methionine. Retention of tritium from DL-[5-3H]tryptophan in sibiromycin suggest an NIH shift during hydroxylation of an intermediate.