Investigation of the possible precursors of C9–C9′ by feeding experiments with 13C-labeled sugars. (A) 13C NMR spectra of CN-NDM without feeding (I), with feeding of [2-13C]glucose (II), and with feeding of [1-13C]fructose (III). (B) Proposed mechanism of relative sugar metabolism and incorporation into NDM. Fru, fructose; Glu, glucose; G-6-P, glucose 6-phosphate; G6P-L, 6-phosphoglucono-δ-lactone; G6P-A, 6-phosphogluconate; R-5-P, ribulose-5- phosphate.