Abstract Experiments on the biosynthesis of the menadione chromophore of axenomycin D in Streptomyces lisandri resulted in the specific incorporation of label from l-[13 C-Me] methionine,[1-13 C] propionate,[2, 3-13 C 2] propionate,[3-13 C] propionate,[U-13 C 3] glycerol and [U-13 C 6] glucose. The data indicate that the menadione chromophore is derived from a metabolite of the shikimate pathway. The mode of incorporation shows, ...