Revised stereochemistry and biosynthesis of seragakinone A

The relative stereochemistry of seragakinone A (1), an anthracycline-derived pentacyclic fungal metabolite, was revised by X-ray analysis. The tetracyclic skeleton (C-1-C-14) and the C-5 moiety (C-1'-C-5') of 1 were shown to be biosynthesized via decaketide and mevalonate pathway, respectively, on the basis of incorporation experiments. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.