Inhibition of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid Synthesis by the Antibiotic Cerulenin

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Abstract
Cerulenin, a specific inhibitor of β-ketoacyl-(acyl carrier protein) synthetase [EC 2.3.1.41] and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthetase [EC 4.1.3.5], was studied to determine whether it inhibits 6-methylsalicylic acid synthesis, in which so-called “polyketide” formation, a condensation step similar to that in fatty acid synthesis, is involved. In fact, 100 μg/ml (4.5 × 10−4 M) of cerulenin inhibited 60% of 6-methylsalicylic acid synthetase activity and 68% of fatty acid synthetase activity of Penicillium urticae.