THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF CHLORAMPHENICOL

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Abstract
Studies have shown that p-nitrophenylserinol (p-NPS) strongly stimulates antibiotic production by Streptomyces venezuelae. Since p-NPS represents a major part of the chloramphenicol molecule, it has been thought that a true precursor effect is involved. Present studies show that formation of N-acetyl-p-NPS is chiefly responsible for increase in antibiotic activity. Carbon-14 tracer studies show that the p-NPS part of the chloramphenicol molecule is derived from endogenous sources, even when relatively large amounts of p-NPS are added to the synthetic culture medium. Furthermore, C14-labeled dichloroacetic acid is not combined with the endogenously-produced precursor. Evidence indicates that dichloroacetylation of p-NPS is not involved in biosynthesis of chloramphenicol.