BIOSYNTHESIS OF FLUOROACETATE AND 4-FLUOROTHREONINE BY STREPTOMYCES-CATTLEYA - GLYCINE AND PYRUVATE AS PRECURSORS

Using F-19 NMR spectroscopy, C-13-labelled glycines and pyruvates are shown to be incorporated at high levels into fluoroacetate and 4-fluor othreonine by resting cells of Streptomyces cattleya; the labelling pa tterns illustrate a conversion of glycine via serine to pyruvate,where the C-2 and C-3 carbon atoms of pyruvate contribute both carbon atoms of fluoroacetate and C-3 and C-4 of 4-fluorothreonine respectively.