The enzymology of clavam and carbapenem biosynthesis

The enzyme-catalysed reactions involved in formation of the bicyclic clavam and carbapenem nuclei, including -amino acid and -lactam formation, are discussed and compared with those involved in penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthesis. The common role of unusual oxidation reactions in the biosynthetic pathways and the lack of synthetic reagents available to effect them are highlighted.