Phosphoglycerate, a building block of moenomycin.

The antibiotic moenomycin(Flavomycin®)1'2'3) isolated from Streptomyces bambergiensis and other strains is a surface-active phosphorus-containing glycolipid that contains an UV-chromophore, 2-amino-cyclopentane-dione-l,34), a lipid portion, moeno cinol5) a carbohydrate moiety6) consisting of several sugars (D-glucose, D-glucosamine, D-quinovosamine), and phosphorus linked in ester form. The present study is concerned with the phosphoric ester fraction obtained on hydrolysis of moenomycins A and C. As reported in a earlier communication2^ phosphorus is present in moenomycin in the form of a diester, stable to alkalis. On hydrolysis with dilute HC1 the phosphorus is split off as the phosphoric monoester P4. The phosphoric esters F1 (minositol phosphate), P2 (ribitol phosphate) and P3 (anhydroribitol phosphate) previously