Biosynthesis of dithiadiketopiperazine antibiotics: Comparison of possible aromatic amino acid precursors

Abstract Phenylalanine- 14 C-3 was shown to be a more efficient precursor than m - tyrosine - 14 C-2 for the production of gliotoxin by Penicillium terlikowskii or Trichoderma viride , as well as for production of bisdethio-di(methylthio)-acetylaranotin by Arachniotus aureus . All of the aromatic and both of the methylene deuteriums of phenylalanine-d 8 were retained upon incorporation into acetylaranotin by Aspergillus terreus .