The biosynthesis of the bleomycin aglycon can be visualized in three stages:

NRPS-mediated formation of P-3A from Ser, Asn, His, and Ala
PKS-mediated elongation of P-3A by malonyl CoA and AdoMet to yield P-4
NRPS-mediated elongation of P-4 by Thr to P-5 that is further elongated by β-Ala, Cys, and Cys to get P-6m.On the basis of the bleomycin structure and the deduced functions of individual NRPS and PKS domains and modules, a linear model for the bleomycin megasynthetase-templated assembly of the bleomycin peptide/polyketide/peptide aglycon was proposed from nine amino acids and one acetate. Biosynthesis of bleomycin is completed by glycosylation of the aglycones. Bleomycin naturally occurring-analogues have two to three sugar molecules, and DNA cleavage activities of these analogues have been assessed, primarily by the plasmid relaxation and break light assays. History
Bleomycin was first discovered in 1962 when the Japanese scientist Hamao Umezawa found anticancer activity while screening culture filtrates of Streptomyces verticillus. Umezawa published his discovery in 1966. The drug was launched in Japan by Nippon Kayaku in 1969. In the US, bleomycin gained FDA approval in July 1973. It was initially marketed in the US by the Bristol-Myers Squibb precursor, Bristol Laboratories, under the brand name Blenoxane. Research
Bleomycin is used in research to induce pulmonary fibrosis in mice. See also
Flagellate pigmentation from bleomycin
Pingyangmycin (Bleomycin A5)

References
Further reading
External links
"Bleomycin". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. "Bleomycin". European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Cryoglobulinemic purpura is a skin condition characterized by purpura and occurring most frequently in multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia. : 822

See also
Cryoglobulinemia
Skin lesion


== References ==