Isolation, enzyme-bound structure, and activity of platensimycin A1 from Streptomyces platensis

Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is emerging as a valuable target for antibacterial agents. Platensimycin and platencin are novel natural products that were reported recently to inhibit the FabF and FabF/FabH condensing enzymes, respectively, present in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Selective inhibition of these enzymes by platensimycin and platencin accounts for their potent antibiotic activity. We have continued our quest to find additional members of this class of compounds leading to discovery of platensimycin A₁, a hydroxylated congener. We report herein the isolation, structure, antibacterial and enzymatic activities, and co-crystal structure bound to Escherichia coli FabF. The lower activity of platensimycin A₁ suggests that substitution at C-14 is detrimental for the activity.     

Structure of homoplatensimide A: a potential key biosynthetic intermediate of platensimycin isolated from Streptomyces platensis

Platensimycin and platencin are novel natural product antibiotics that inhibit bacterial growth by inhibiting fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes FabF and FabF/FabH, respectively. Continued search for the natural congeners for structure activity relationship studies led to the isolation of a congener which possesses all of the twenty carbons of diterpenoid unit, a potential biosynthetic intermediate of platensic acid unit of platensimycin. Isolation, structure, and activity of homoplatensimide A and biosynthetic relationship to platensimycin have been described.     

Chemistry of platensimycin

Platensimycin is a novel natural product antibiotic that inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis specifically inhibiting the elongation condensing enzyme FabF. Reaction with diazomethane at controlled temperatures led to selective methylation of the phenolic groups. Methylation, halogenation, reduction, epoxidation, Bayer-Villiger oxidation and details of the conversion of dihydroplatensimycin to the cyclic enamino-amido forms have been described.     

Enhancement of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Production in Escherichia coli by Coexpressing Genes, Including fabF, Involved in the Elongation Cycle of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis

The goal of this study was to increase the production of long-chain fatty acids and to change the composition of fatty acids through the overexpression of genes involved in the fatty acid synthase (FAS) pathway and utilizing characteristics of a specific gene, namely, fabF. The four genes, fabB, fabG, fabZ, and fabI, are Escherichia coli homologues and function in the elongation cycle of fatty acid biosynthesis. FabB (fabB), an activator of FAS, is a β-oxoacyl-ACP synthase, which catalyzes the addition of acyl-ACP to malonyl-ACP to generate β-oxoacyl-ACP. FabF (fabF) participates at the same step as FabB in the elongation cycle and is structurally and functionally similar to FabB. Hence, we attempted to see if FabF was an activator of FAS, like FabB, with the rationale that these two enzymes have striking similarities. FabF exhibits thermal regulation in that enzyme activity increases at lower temperatures. To confirm its role as an activator of FAS, fabF was overexpressed solely or with other genes in the elongation cycle through biochemical engineering. The fabF recombinants were cultured at different temperatures, resulting in increased total and unsaturated fatty acid accumulation in all the recombinants, compared to wild type, at lower temperatures.     

Isolation, structure, and absolute stereochemistry of platensimycin, a broad spectrum antibiotic discovered using an antisense differential sensitivity strategy

Fatty acids are essential for survival of bacteria and are synthesized by a series of enzymes including the elongation enzymes, beta-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase I/II (FabF/B). Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is one of the new targets for the discovery and development of antibacterial agents. Platensimycin (1a) is a novel broad spectrum Gram-positive antibiotic produced by Streptomyces platensis. It was discovered by target-based whole-cell screening strategy using antisense differential sensitivity assay. It inhibits bacterial growth by selectively inhibiting condensing enzyme FabF of the fatty acid synthesis pathway and was isolated by a two-step process, a capture step followed by reversed-phase HPLC. The structure was elucidated by 2D NMR methods and confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of a bromo derivative. It was determined that potential reactivity of the enone moiety does not play a key role in the biological activity of platensimycin. However, cyclohexenone ring conformation renders for the stronger binding interaction with the enzyme. The isolation, structure elucidation, derivatization, and biological activity of 6,7-dihydroplatensimycin are described.     

In Vitro Evaluation of the Photoreactivity and Phototoxicity of Natural Polyphenol Antioxidants

Polyphenols are a large family of natural compounds widely used in cosmetic products due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory beneficial properties and their ability to prevent UV radiation-induced oxidative stress. Since these compounds present chromophores and are applied directly to the skin, they can react with sunlight and exert phototoxic effects. The available scientific information on the phototoxic potential of these natural compounds is scarce, and thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the photoreactivity and phototoxicity of five phenolic antioxidants with documented use in cosmetic products. A standard ROS assay was validated and applied to screen the photoreactivity of the natural phenolic antioxidants caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and rutin. The phototoxicity potential was determined by using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), based on the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake phototoxicity test. Although all studied phenolic antioxidants absorbed UV/Vis radiation in the range of 290 to 700 nm, only DOPAC was able to generate singlet oxygen. The generation of reactive oxygen species is an early-stage chemical reaction as part of the phototoxicity mechanism. Yet, none of the studied compounds decreased the viability of keratinocytes after irradiation, leading to the conclusion that they do not have phototoxic potential. The data obtained with this work suggests that these compounds are safe when incorporated in cosmetic products.     

Electrochemical behavior and antioxidant and prooxidant activity of natural phenolics

We have investigated the electrochemical oxidation of a number natural phenolics (salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, o-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, quercetin and rutin) using cyclic voltammetry. The antioxidant properties of these compounds were also studied. A structural analysis of the tested phenolics suggests that multiple OH substitution and conjugation are important determinants of the free radical scavenging activity and electrochemical behavior. Compounds with low oxidation potentials (Epa lower than 0.45) showed antioxidant activity, whereas compounds with high Epa values (>0.45) act as prooxidants.     

稀土及其配合物对核酸的断裂作用

人工核酸酶是一类具有限制性内切酶的功能、能高效高选择性地催化水解DNA 或RNA 的断裂工具。它们一般由核酸结构识别系统及催化断裂系统组成, 将两种功能有效地结合起来, 可模拟核酸的酶切反应。本文综述了稀土及其配合物对核酸的断裂作用, 并对其断裂机制进行了探讨。     

Covalently bonded platinum(II) complexes of alpha-amino acids and peptides as a potential tool for protein labeling

Arylplatinum(II) complexes have been covalently bonded to the N and C termini and to the alpha-carbon of various amino acid derivatives. These organometallic-functionalized amino acid compounds can be converted into the corresponding free amino acids under both basic and acidic conditions; this demonstrates the excellent stability properties of these biomolecules. Due to the NMR activity displayed by the 195Pt nucleus (natural abundance 33.8%, I = 1/2) these compounds are functional bio-markers. Furthermore, the ability of the arylplatinum functional group to bind SO2 gas, selectively and reversibly as indicated by changes in the spectroscopic properties (1H, 13C, 195Pt NMR and UV spectra) of these compounds, allows for the potential use of these complexes as in vitro biosensors.     

Cobalt- versus ruthenium-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction for the synthesis of credneramide A and B

The first synthesis of the natural products credneramide A and B was accomplished by utilizing Alder-ene reactions between a terminal alkene and an internal alkyne to generate the rather uncommon 1,4-diene substructure of these compounds. Moreover, two different short linear sequences toward these targets are evaluated using either a cobalt-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction of 1-chloropent-1-yne or a ruthenium-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction of 1-trimethylsilyl-1-pentyne with 5-hexenoic acid derivatives in the key step transformation. In addition, saponification of the primary Alder-ene product derived from the cobalt-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction led to credneric acid, the biological precursor of both natural products.     

Adding a Functional Handle to Nature′s Building Blocks: The Asymmetric Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acids

β‐Hydroxy‐α‐amino acids are not only used by synthetic chemists but are also found in natural products, many of which show anti‐microbial or anti‐cancer properties. Over the past 30 years, chemists have searched for many asymmetric routes to these useful building blocks. Initial attempts to synthesize these compounds utilized chiral auxiliaries and the reactions of glycine equivalents with aldehydes to form two stereocenters in one step. Other methods with the formation of specific intermediates or that were aimed at a specific amino acid have also been investigated. Asymmetric hydrogenation by dynamic kinetic resolution has emerged as a high‐yielding method for the synthesis of an array of modified amino acids with good stereoselectivity. More recently, amino‐acid functionalization and multicomponent reactions have increased the atom economy and simplified many long and difficult routes. In this Focus Review, many of the elegant syntheses of these compounds are explored. The applications of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids in natural‐product synthesis are also mentioned.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of marine cyclic depsipeptide halipeptins A-D

Halipeptins A-D (1 a-d) are a family of natural cyclic depsipeptides isolated from marine sponges. Total syntheses of these four compounds are detailed in this report. The key elements in this synthesis include the elaboration of the polysubstituted decanoic acid parts by two asymmetric aldol reactions, assembly of the N-methyl-delta-hydroxyisoleucine residue by using either aza-Claisen rearrangement or methylation of aspartates as the key steps, and macrocyclization at the polysubstituted decanoic acid alanine site.     

Optically pure N-hydroxy-O-triisopropylsilyl-alpha-L-amino acid methyl esters from AlCl3-assisted ring opening of chiral oxaziridines by nitrogen containing nucleophiles

[reaction: see text] This article reports a straightforward and unprecedented process of AlCl3-assisted oxaziridine ring opening by nitrogen containing nucleophiles, in a totally anhydrous milieu. Under these conditions, nucleophiles exclusively attack the carbon atom of the three-membered heterocycles, obtained from methyl esters of natural alpha-amino acids, generating N-hydroxy-alpha-L-amino acid methyl esters. No nitrones, amides, or other side products, either from unwanted rearrangements or due to the attack of the nucleophile on the N atom of the oxaziridine systems, are formed. The hydroxylamine compounds are recovered in excellent yields, after their site-specific conversion into the corresponding O-triisopropylsilyl derivatives, by exposure to triisopropylsilyl triflate in the presence of 1H-imidazole. Derivatization, performed immediately after the recovery of the N-hydroxylated precursors, allows the chiral integrity of the asymmetric alpha-carbon atoms in the amino acid methyl esters to be retained. It also protects the obtained compounds from frame degradation by disproportionation. N-Hydroxy-O-triisopropylsilyl-alpha-L-amino acid methyl esters are important intermediates in the study of natural alpha-L-amino acid metabolic pathways and are ideal candidates as starting materials in the synthesis of biologically, pharmacologically, and nutritionally important N-hydroxy peptides.     

Gallotannins and Tannic Acid: First Chemical Syntheses and In Vitro Inhibitory Activity on Alzheimer’s Amyloid β‐Peptide Aggregation

The screening of natural products in the search for new lead compounds against Alzheimer’s disease has unveiled several plant polyphenols that are capable of inhibiting the formation of toxic β‐amyloid fibrils. Gallic acid based gallotannins are among these polyphenols, but their antifibrillogenic activity has thus far been examined using “tannic acid”, a commercial mixture of gallotannins and other galloylated glucopyranoses. The first total syntheses of two true gallotannins, a hexagalloylglucopyranose and a decagalloylated compound whose structure is commonly used to depict “tannic acid”, are now described. These depsidic gallotannins and simpler galloylated glucose derivatives all inhibit amyloid β‐peptide (Aβ) aggregation in vitro, and monogalloylated α‐glucogallin and a natural β‐hexagalloylglucose are shown to be the strongest inhibitors.     

Total synthesis of bistramide A and its 36(Z) isomers: differential effect on cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis

The total synthesis of bistramide?A and its 36(Z),39(S) and 36(Z),39(R) isomers shows that these compounds have different effects on cell division and apoptosis. The synthesis relies on a novel enol ether-forming reaction for the spiroketal fragment, a kinetic oxa-Michael cyclization reaction for the tetrahydropyran fragment, and an asymmetric crotonylation reaction for the amino acid fragment. Preliminary biological studies show a distinct pattern of influence of each of the three compounds on cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis in HL-60 cells, thus suggesting that these effects are independent activities of the natural product.     

Radiocarbon evaluation of natural/synthetic ratio in citric acid samples

A method is described for the evaluation of the natural/synthetic ratio in citric acid samples. The method is based on measurements of the activity of carbon-14 present in citric acid of natural origin. The parameters that affect the radiocarbon counting (background emission, scintillation quenching and relative efficiency) are discussed. Two different procedures are described which can also be applied to the evaluation of the natural/synthetic origin of other carbon-containing compounds.     

Environmental DNA-encoded antibiotics fasamycins A and B inhibit FabF in type II fatty acid biosynthesis

In a recent study of polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters cloned directly from soil, we isolated two antibiotics, fasamycins A and B, which showed activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. To identify the target of the fasamycins, mutants with elevated fasamycin A minimum inhibitory concentrations were selected from a wild-type culture of E. faecalis OG1RF. Next-generation sequencing of these mutants, in conjunction with in vitro biochemical assays, showed that the fasamycins inhibit FabF of type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FASII). Candidate gene overexpression studies also showed that fasamycin resistance is conferred by fabF overexpression. On the basis of comparisons with known FASII inhibitors and in silico docking studies, the chloro-gem-dimethyl-anthracenone substructure seen in the fasamycins is predicted to represent a naturally occurring FabF-specific antibiotic pharmacophore. Optimization of this pharmacophore should yield FabF-specific antibiotics with increased potencies and differing spectra of activity. This study demonstrates that culture-independent antibiotic discovery methods have the potential to provide access to novel metabolites with modes of action that differ from those of antibiotics currently in clinical use.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,4‐Dicarbonyl Compounds from Aldehydes by Hydrogen Atom Transfer Photocatalysis and Chiral Lewis Acid Catalysis

Enantioenriched 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds are versatile synthons in natural product and pharmaceutical drug synthesis. We herein report a mild pathway for the efficient enantioselective synthesis of these compounds directly from aldehydes through synergistic cooperation between a neutral eosin Y hydrogen atom transfer photocatalyst and a chiral rhodium Lewis acid catalyst. This method is distinguished by its operational simplicity, abundant feedstocks, atom economy, and ability to generate products in high yields (up to 99 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Effects of acid rain on soil humic compounds

The modifications induced by acid rain on the solubility, molecular configuration and molecular weight distribution of humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids were studied. A natural soil was subjected to simulated acid rain until a soil pH of 4 was obtained; HA and FA acids were then extracted and characterised. The results obtained were compared both with those of natural soil and with those of a soil subjected to acid rain. Elute analysis indicates the continuous release of soluble organic compounds as a consequence of acid rain simulation, although no relationship was found with the process of soil acidification. The yields of HA and FA show that HA values are the same while FA amount is higher in the natural soil; in acid soils their water solubility increases. The molecular weight distribution shows that HA consist of a mixture of compounds of different molecular weights; they are molecules for the most part larger than 100 kDa and their distribution is not changed by soil acidification. FA can be considered to form a much more homogeneous system; in natural soil, the molecules are larger than 50 kDa, while in acidified soil they are for the most part smaller than 3 kDa.