Biosynthesis of fluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine by Streptomyces cattleya. Glycine and pyruvate as precursors

Using F-19 NMR spectroscopy, C-13-labelled glycines and pyruvates are shown to be incorporated at high levels into fluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine by resting cells of Streptomyces cattleya; the labelling patterns illustrate a conversion of glycine via serine to pyruvate,where the C-2 and C-3 carbon atoms of pyruvate contribute both carbon atoms of fluoroacetate and C-3 and C-4 of 4-fluorothreonine respectively.