Biosynthesis of Staurosporine, 2. Incorporation of Tryptophan

Abstract
Following studies to define the time course, media, and nutrient parameters for the production of the potent cytotoxic antibiotic staurosporine [1] in Streptomyces staurosporeus, biosynthetic studies of staurosporine with singly- and doubly-labeled radioactive precursors established that either one or two units of tryptophan was incorporated efficiently. From the 13C-nmr spectrum of staurosporine subsequent to stable isotope incorporation experiments, it was established that the aglycone moiety was derived from two units of tryptophan with the carbon skeleton incorporated intact.