Abyssomicin C-A Polycyclic Antibiotic from a Marine Verrucosispora Strain as an Inhibitor of the p-Aminobenzoic Acid/Tetrahydrofolate Biosynthesis Pathway

Plumbing the depths: Abyssomicin C (structure shown) from ocean floor sediment is a novel antibiotic that inhibits the biosynthesis steps between chorismate and p‐aminobenzoic acid. Its activity may be explained by the irreversible trapping of the targeted enzymes by a Michael addition. Blocking the biosynthesis of p‐aminobenzoic acid may be one approach to developing new antibiotics.