Selective 13C-labelling of cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A is biosynthetically labelled with 13C by growing an overproducing strain of Tolypocladium inflatum on minimal media containing either [1-13C]-, [2-13C]-, [3-13C]- or [6-13C]glucose as the only carbon source. NMR analysis of the 13C-labelled peptide showed a labelling pattern in which 13C occurs at specific sites. These can be predicted by consideration of the relevant biosynthetic pathways. Quantitation of the site-specific enrichments revealed that the 13C-label incorporation is efficient and selective. Metabolic fluxes through alternative pathways can also be estimated from these results. Isotopically labelled peptides will be a very useful tool for the study of molecular interactions with their receptors.