Preparation of Site-Specific Isotopically Labelled Zervamicins, the Antibiotic Peptaibols Produced by Emericellopsis Salmosynnemata

A simple procedure for the preparation of the specifically labelled peptide antibiotic zervamicins IC, IIA and IIB has been developed. The zervamicin molecules are labelled with stable isotopes by culturing the Emericebpsis salmosynnemata on a well-defined synthetic medium containing the highly isotopically enriched amino acid. To obtain the peptide with the specifically and highly enriched amino acid residue, precautions have been taken to prevent any de mu0 biosynthesis of the particular amino acid from unlabelled precursors. The enrichment of the labelled peptide is determined by mass spectrometric analysis. Following this method we have incorporated [2`, 4', 5', 6'. 7'-H-2(5),]-L-[-1'-N-15] -L-T1r apn-d [2', 3', 4', 5', 6'-H-2(5)]-L--Phl16 into zervamicins IC, IIA and IIB on the preparative scale and without scrambling of the label. Thus, using the procedures described, isotopically labelled zervamicins can be prepared, allowing them to be studied by solid-state NMR.