Abstract: The biosynthesis of the antibiotics acivicin (1) and 4-hydroxyacivicin (2) has been studied in Streptomyces sviceus. Initial experiments identified ornithine (11) as the primary precursor, rather than glutamic acid or glutamine. Incorporation of [5-'3C, 15N] ornithine established the retention of the w-amino nitrogen. Incorporation of [2, 3, 3-2H3]-,[3, 3, 4, 4- 2H4]-,[3BZH]-, and [3S-* H] ornithines revealed the complete loss of H-2, replacement of ...
