Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Functional Complementation Analysis FCA: A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways
Published on: June 24, 2016
A nitrous acid biosynthetic pathway for diazo group formation in bacteria
Yoshinori Sugai1, Yohei Katsuyama1, Yasuo Ohnishi1
1Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Although some diazo compounds have bioactivities of medicinal interest, little is known about diazo group formation in nature. Here we describe an unprecedented nitrous acid biosynthetic pathway responsible for the formation of a diazo group in the biosynthesis of the ortho-diazoquinone secondary metabolite cremeomycin in Streptomyces cremeus. This finding provides important insights into the biosynthetic pathways not only for diazo compounds but also for other naturally occurring compounds containing nitrogen-nitrogen bonds.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism
Diazonium Group Substitution: –OH and –H
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by...
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
![Cercosporin-Photocatalyzed [4+1]- and [4+2]-Annulations of Azoalkenes Under Mild Conditions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60786.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
