One gene, isnA, encodes the enzyme that converts the precursor amine functionality of tryptophan into the isocyanide moiety. The isolation and characterization of the isocyanide-containing environmental-DNA-derived antibiotic 1, its biosynthetic genes (isnA and isnB), and the general outline of the biosynthesis of 1 via intermediate 2 are presented (see scheme).
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Brady et al. (2005) studied this question.