Among myxobacteria only strains of Myxococcus fulvus are able to produce in
addition to the well known myxothiazol A (1) an analog, myxothiazol Z (2),
with an ester-type beta-methoxyacrylate pharmacophore. Feeding experiments
with labeled precursors established its biosynthesis from the amide (1) pr
esumably via an O-methyl imidate (3). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri
ghts reserved.