Discovery of brevijanazines from Aspergillus brevijanus reveals the molecular basis for p-nitrobenzoic acid in fungi

The brevijanazines are novel p-nitrobenzoylated piperazines isolated from Aspergillus brevijanus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography and total synthesis. Heterologous biosynthesis, precursor feeding and in vitro microsomal assays unveiled the biosynthetic pathway to the brevijanazines, featuring a cytochrome P450 oxygenase that converts p-aminobenzoic acid to p-nitrobenzoic acid.

Automated summary

The researchers isolated a novel compound, brevijanazines, from Aspergillus brevijanus. The structures were elucidated through various techniques and the biosynthetic pathway was revealed.