Biosynthetic studies of platencin

Platensimycin and platencin are two potent and novel antibiotics that exert their antibiotic activities: by inhibiting condensing enzymes of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis. Both compounds are composed of two structural units; a common 3-amino-2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid moiety and different C-17 polycyclic enone acid moiety. The latter moiety of each compound is biosynthesized by the non-mevalonate MEP pathway, whereas the former moiety is made from by the TCA cycle and PEP by condensation of 4+3 carbon units. Herein, the details of biosynthesis of platencin are described.