Synthesis and derivatization of daptomycin: a chemoenzymatic route to acidic lipopeptide antibiotics

Daptomycin is a branched cyclic nonribosomally assembled acidic lipopeptide, which is the first clinically approved antibiotic of this class. Here we show that the recombinant cyclization domain of the Streptomyces coelicolor calcium-dependent antibiotic (CDA) nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) is a versatile tool for the chemoenzymatic generation of daptomycin derivatives. Linear CDA undecapeptide thioesters with single exchanges at six daptomycin-specific residues were successfully cyclized by CDA cyclase. Simultaneous incorporation of all six of these residues into the peptide backbone and elongation of the N-terminus of CDA by two residues yielded a daptomycin derivative that lacked only the beta-methyl group of l-3-methylglutamate. Bioactivity studies with several substrate analogues revealed a significant role of nonproteinogenic constituents for antibacterial potency. In accordance with acidic lipopeptides, the bioactivity of the chemoenzymatic assembled daptomycin analogue is dependent on the concentration of calcium ions. Single deletions of the four acidic residues in the peptide backbone suggest that only two aspartic acid residues are essential for antimicrobial potency. These two residues are strictly conserved among other nonribosomal acidic lipopeptides and the EF-motif of ribosomally assembled calmodulin. Based on these findings CDA cyclase is a versatile catalyst that can be used to generate novel daptomycin derivatives that are otherwise difficult to obtain by chemical modification of the parental tridecapeptide to improve further its therapeutic activity.     

Role of ion ligands in the attachment of poly(ethylene oxide) to a charged surface

Using a surface force balance we demonstrate unambiguously that high-molecular-weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) does not adsorb onto mica from purified water with no added salt, a surprising observation in view of its strong adsorption on mica from aqueous 0.1 M KNO3 solution. Analysis of the force profiles, together with the known complexation of PEO with metal ions, suggests that the polymer attachment to the negatively charged surface is mediated by the hydrated potassium ion acting as a ligand.     

Syntheses of bile pigments. Part 15. First unequivocal assignment of the absolute configuration of an urobilinoid bile pigment by X-ray diffraction analysis of its synthetic precursor

(?)-(4S,16S)-8, 12-bis[de(2-carboxyethyl)]mesourobilin-IIIα hydrochloride ( 8 ) has been synthesized from the enantiomerically pure 1,4,5,10-tetrahydro-1-oxodipyrrin-9-carboxylic-acid precursor 6a whose absolute configuration was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of the N-[(S)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl] carboxamide 7b . The present results prove unequivocally that an (S,S)-configurated urobilin chromophore displays a negative Cotton effect in the VIS absorption range. However, the helicity of the inherently dissymmetric chromophore remains undetermined.     

Zur Stereochemie der Vitamin D3-Epoxide Röntgenstrukturanalyse einer 5,6-7,8-Diepoxidverbindung

Epoxidation of vitamin D₃ with benzonitrile ¦H₂O₂¦ KHCO₃ (Payne's reagent) yields exclusively the 5,6-mono-oxirane2. Further epoxidation with the same reagent gives the 5,6-7,8-bisepoxide3 a. Its stereochemistry and therefore the stereochemistry of2 was established by single crystal X-ray analysis of thep-Brbenzoate3b. Thereby for the first time a directive effect of a homoallylic hydroxyl group during thePayne-epoxidation was established.

Herrn Prof.Mihailovic (Universität Belgrad) mit den besten Wünschen zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Electrocatalytic Proton Reduction by a Cobalt Complex Containing a Proton-Responsive Bis(alkylimdazole)methane Ligand: Involvement of a C−H Bond in H2 Formation

Homogeneous electrocatalytic proton reduction is reported using cobalt complex [ 1 ](BF₄)₂. This complex comprises two bis(1-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methane (HBMIM ) ligands that contain an acidic methylene moiety in their backbone. Upon reduction of [ 1 ](BF₄)₂ by either electrochemical or chemical means, one of its HBMIM ligands undergoes deprotonation under the formation of dihydrogen. Addition of a mild proton source (acetic acid) to deprotonated complex [ 2 ](BF₄) regenerates protonated complex [ 1 ](BF₄)₂. In presence of acetic acid in acetonitrile solvent [ 1 ](BF₄)₂ shows electrocatalytic proton reduction with a k_obs of ≈200 s⁻¹ at an overpotential of 590 mV. Mechanistic investigations supported by DFT (BP86) suggest that dihydrogen formation takes place in an intramolecular fashion through the participation of a methylene C−H bond of the HBMIM ligand and a Co^II−H bond through formal heterolytic splitting of the latter. These findings are of interest to the development of responsive ligands for molecular (base)metal (electro)catalysis.     

Ferromagnetism in a dinuclear nickel(II) complex containing triethylenetetramine and tricyanomethanide

Triethylenetetramine (L(4)) was used as a tetradentate blocking ligand that, after complexation with Ni(II), leaves two sites ready for ligation with tricyanomethanide. The formed binuclear complex [L(4)Ni(NCC(CN)CN)(2)NiL(4)](ClO(4))(2) exhibits a ferromagnetic coupling with J/hc = +0.15 cm(-1) and g(Ni) = 2.126; below 16 K, a ferromagnetic ordering is evidenced by ac magnetic susceptibility (both in-phase and out-of-phase), magnetization, field-cooled magnetization, and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements.     

Alkaline Earth Transition Metal Antimonides AT4Sb12 (A = Ca,Sr, Ba; T = Fe,Ru, Os) with LaFe4P12-Structure

The title compounds were prepared by reaction of CaSb₂, SrSb₂, or BaSb₃ with the transition metals and antimony in sealed silica tubes. They crystallize with the cubic LaFe₄P₁₂-structure, which was refined from single-crystal X-ray data of CaFe₄Sb₁₂, SrRu₄Sb₁₂, and BaRu₄Sb₁₂ to residuals of R = 0.014, 0.016, and 0.014, respectively. The thermal parameters of the alkaline earth ions increase with decreasing ionic size. The Sb? Sb distances are greater in the iron compound than they are in the two ruthenium compounds. This is rationalized to be due to a larger portion of electrons in antibonding Sb? Sb states in the iron compound.     

Parameter-free structure-property correlation via progressive reaction posets for substituted benzenes

Progressive reaction networks as frequently arise in chemistry are naturally identifiable as "partially ordered sets" (or posets). Here the direction of the reaction identifies the partial ordering of the set of molecular species. The possibility that different properties are similarly ordered is a further natural consideration and is here investigated for a suite of over 30 properties for (methyl and chloro) substituted benzenes. Such a posetic correlation is favorably demonstrated for these substituted benzenes, and it is illustrated how suitable properties may be simply predicted in an interpolative parameter-free (albeit not model-free) fashion through the use of the reaction poset. Some numerical model-quality indicators are identified, and the simple approach is deemed quite reasonable.     

Single cell manipulation, analytics, and label-free protein detection in microfluidic devices for systems nanobiology

Single cell analytics for proteomic analysis is considered a key method in the framework of systems nanobiology which allows a novel proteomics without being subjected to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle, or cell-population effects. We are currently developing a single cell analytical method for protein fingerprinting combining a structured microfluidic device with latest optical laser technology for single cell manipulation (trapping and steering), free-solution electrophoretical protein separation, and (label-free) protein detection. In this paper we report on first results of this novel analytical device focusing on three main issues. First, single biological cells were trapped, injected, steered, and deposited by means of optical tweezers in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device and consecutively lysed with SDS at a predefined position. Second, separation and detection of fluorescent dyes, amino acids, and proteins were achieved with LIF detection in the visible (VIS) (488 nm) as well as in the deep UV (266 nm) spectral range for label-free, native protein detection. Minute concentrations of 100 fM injected fluorescein could be detected in the VIS and a first protein separation and label-free detection could be achieved in the UV spectral range. Third, first analytical experiments with single Sf9 insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda) in a tailored microfluidic device exhibiting distinct electropherograms of a green fluorescent protein-construct proved the validity of the concept. Thus, the presented microfluidic concept allows novel and fascinating single cell experiments for systems nanobiology in the future.     

Pre-resonance Raman intensity studies of TCNQ and TCNQ−

Pre-resonance Raman spectra have been obtained for TCNQ and LiTCNQ in acetonitrile solution using an Ar⁺—Kr⁺ laser and a tunable rhodamine 6G dye laser. Using the theory of Albrecht and Hutley, we have calculated frequency factors for the intensity variations for several symmetric vibrational modes of each molecule. The observed spectra for TCNQ and LiTCNQ with violet, blue, and green excitation give evidence for B-type resonance enhancement due to vibronic mixing between at least two violet and ultraviolet transitions. The Raman spectra for LiTCNQ with yellow, orange, and red excitation show A-type enhancement due to a single electronic excitation in the near infrared.