Synthesis and evaluation of a designed inhibitor for nonactin biosynthesis in S. griseus ETH A7796

A designed suicide inhibitor of a postulated, enzyme-catalyzed step in the biosynthesis of the macrotetrolide antibiotic nonactin (1) was synthesized and evaluated in vivo. The inhibitor reduced the rate of nonactin biosynthesis by over 75% while affecting neither biomass production nor the synthesis of other secondary metabolites. The role of the inhibitor in nonactin biosynthesis is discussed.