Abstract
The large number of antibiotics can biogenetically be divided into 3 groups depending
on the origin of their building units from amino acid, fatty acid or carbohydrate
metabolism. Combinations of these pathways are also possible. Most of our knowledge
on the biosynthesis of antibiotics stems from in vivo studies with isotopically labelled
precursos. Only in a few cases has the enzymology been studied. Newer results on the
biosynthesis of penicillins, cephalosporines, cyclic polypeptide antibiotics, ansamycins,
and streptomycin are discussed.
Furthermore some examples are given for the regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis
by catabolite repression.
