Biosynthesis of the meroterpenoid metabolite, andibenin B: aromatic precursors

Abstract

¹⁴ C- and ²H-Labelling experiments, together with ²H n.m.r. spectroscopy show that ethyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3,5,6-trimethylbenzoate (4) and ethyl 4-hydroxy-2, 3, 5-trimethylbenzoate (5), but not ethyl 2, 4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate (2) or ethyl 4-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoate (3) are efficiently and specifically incorporated into andibenin B (1) by the fungus Aspergillus variecolor, and the biogenetic significance of these results is discussed.