A doxorubicin-nonproducing mutant, Nu23 was selected from the mutagenesis of Streptomyces peucetius ATCC27952. Chemical and molecular biological analysis suggested that the mutant was blocked at the step between polyketide synthase and aklaviketon reductase in the biosynthesis of doxorubicin. Furthermore, the bioconversion experiment with the mutant revealed that 13-dihydrodaunorubicin is likely to be a biosynthetic intermediate.