BIOSYNTHESIS OF POLYKETIDE-TERPENOID (MEROTERPENOID) METABOLITES ANDIBENIN-B AND ANDILESIN-A IN ASPERGILLUS-VARIECOLOR

Incorporation of C-13-labelled acetates and methionine indicate that a ndibenin B (1) and andilesin A (5), C-25 metabolites of Aspergillus va riecolor, are biosynthesised via a mixed polyketide-terpenoid pathway, O-18(2)-Labelling studies, and incorporation of aromatic precursors a nd mevalonic acids variously labelled with C-13, H-2 and O-18 provide evidence for the extensive oxidative and other modifications involved in the elaboration of the highly oxygenated polycyclic structures foun d in these metabolites, The biosynthetic interrelationships among thes e and other complex meroterpenoid metabolites are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.