The primary amino acid building blocks that constitute asperparaline A have been determined through feeding and incorporation of
13C-labeled intermediates. The
-methyl proline residue is constituted from (
S)-isoleucine, the novel
spiro-succinime moiety is derived from the oxidative degradation of (
S)-tryptophan, and (
S)-adenosylmethionine contributes the two
N-methyl residues. In addition, it was found that the incorporation of
13C-labeled acetate into the single isoprene unit clearly demonstrates that the isoprene moiety is derived from the mevalonate pathway.