Nectrisine, an iminosugar with a heterocyclic nitrogen-containing 5-membered ring, acts as a glycosidase inhibitor. Thelonectria discophora SANK 18292, a fungus, was identified as a nectrisine producer from its microbial library in our screening for nectrisine producing microorganisms. Biosynthesis of nectrisine produced by the fungus was studied using stable isotope tracer techniques. Incorporation of (13)C-labeled d-ribose and d-xylose into nectrisine was confirmed by mass spectrometry and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, which suggested that these were its precursors. Chromatographic separation of the hot water extract from the culture broth afforded not only nectrisine, but also substantial amounts of 4-amino-4-deoxyarabinitol. Incubation of the latter with the crude enzyme of the fungus at room temp. caused an increase in levels of nectrisine together with a decrease in amounts of the administered potential precursor suggesting that it is a biosynthetic intermediate. From these results, a biosynthetic pathway to nectrisine is proposed via d-xylulose 5-phosphate and 4-amino-4-deoxyarabinitol by the pentose phosphate pathway.
