Characterization of the early stage aminoshikimate pathway in the formation of 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid: the RifN protein specifically converts kanosamine into kanosamine 6-phosphate

The biosynthesis of 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA), precursor of the ansamycin and mitomycin antibiotics, proceeds by the aminoshikimate pathway from 3,4-dideoxy-4-amino-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate (aminoDAHP). Identification of RifN, product of one of three genes from the rifamycin biosynthetic gene cluster known to be essential for aminoDAHP formation, as a specific kanosamine (3-deoxy-3-amino-D-glucose) 6-kinase establishes kanosamine and its 6-phosphate as specific intermediates in AHBA formation. This suggests a hypothetical reaction sequence for aminoDAHP formation, and thus for the early steps of AHBA biosynthesis, starting from UDP-D-glucose and introducing the nitrogen by oxidation and transamination at C-3.     

Biosynthesis of terpenoids: efficient multistep biotransformation procedures affording isotope-labeled 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate using recombinant 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

This paper describes the recombinant expression of the ispC gene of Escherichia coli specifying 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase in a modified form that can be purified efficiently by metal-chelating chromatography. The enzyme was used for the preparation of isotope-labeled 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate employing isotope-labeled glucose and pyruvate as starting materials. The simple one-pot methods described afford numerous isotopomers of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate carrying (3)H, (13)C, or (14)C from commercially available precursors. The overall yield based on the respective isotope-labeled starting material is approximately 50%.     

Kanosamine biosynthesis: a likely source of the aminoshikimate pathway's nitrogen atom

The biosynthetic source of the nitrogen atom incorporated into the aminoshikimate pathway has remained a question for some time. 3-Amino-3-deoxy-D-fructose 6-phosphate has previously been demonstrated to be a precursor to 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid via the inferred intermediacy of 1-deoxy-1-imino-D-erythrose 4-phosphate in Amycolatopsis mediterranei cell-free extract. This investigation examines the possibility that the natural product kanosamine might be a precursor to 3-amino-3-deoxy-D-fructose 6-phosphate. Kanosamine 6-phosphate was synthesized by a chemoenzymatic route and incubated in A. mediterranei cell-free lysate along with D-ribose 5-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate. Formation of 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid was observed. Subsequent incubation in A. mediterranei cell-free lysate of glutamine and NAD with UDP-glucose resulted in the formation of kanosamine. The bioconversion of UDP-glucose into kanosamine along with the bioconversion of kanosamine 6-phosphate into 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid suggests that kanosamine biosynthesis is the source of the aminoshikimate pathway's nitrogen atom.     

Characterization of the TDP-D-ravidosamine biosynthetic pathway: one-pot enzymatic synthesis of TDP-D-ravidosamine from thymidine-5-phosphate and glucose-1-phosphate

Ravidomycin V and related compounds, e.g., FE35A-B, exhibit potent anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines in the presence of visible light. The amino sugar moieties (D-ravidosamine and its analogues, respectively) in these molecules contribute to the higher potencies of ravidomycin and analogues when compared to closely related compounds with neutral or branched sugars. Within the ravidomycin V biosynthetic gene cluster, five putative genes encoding NDP-D-ravidosamine biosynthetic enzymes were identified. Through the activities of the isolated enzymes in vitro, it is demonstrated that ravD, ravE, ravIM, ravAMT and ravNMT encode TDP-D-glucose synthase, TDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose-4,6-dehydratase, TDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose-3,4-ketoisomerase, TDP-3-keto-6-deoxy-D-galactose-3-aminotransferase, and TDP-3-amino-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose-N,N-dimethyl-transferase, respectively. A protocol for a one-pot enzymatic synthesis of TDP-D-ravidosamine has been developed. The results presented here now set the stage to produce TDP-D-ravidosamine routinely for glycosylation studies.     

Biosynthesis of spiro-mamakone A, a structurally unprecedented fungal metabolite

Biosynthetic studies on spiro-mamakone A (1), a potently cytotoxic and antimicrobial compound from an endophytic fungus isolated from the New Zealand native tree Knightia excelsa (rewarewa), confirm the polyketide origins of this unique compound belonging to the spirobisnaphthalene class of compounds. The biosynthesis proceeds via an unprecedented symmetric enedione with the two halves of the molecule being formed from two separate pentaketide units connected by oxidative coupling.     

Synthesis of (1-->4)-linked 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose oligomers. 1

[reaction: see text] Thioglycosides of natural monosaccharides are readily converted into their corresponding chlorides by diphenylchlorosulfonium chloride. This reagent can likewise effect the conversion of the more stable 4-chlorophenylthio 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose derivatives into chloride glycosyl donors. On the basis of this activation strategy, it was possible to assemble unnatural oligosaccharides composed of 2-fluorodeoxy sugars.     

Conformational analysis. Part 20—conformational analysis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-D-glucose and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-D-galactose in solution

The ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra of the α- and β-pyranose anomers of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-D -glucose (4FG) and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-D -galactose (6FGA) in methanol-d₄, DMSO-d₆, acetone-d₆ and D₂O solution are reported. Computer analysis of the ABMX spectra of the CH CH₂F fragments gives accurate vicinal HH and HF coupling constants. An iterative computational analysis of the observed vicinal couplings in this fragment for 6FG, 6FGA and other molecules allows the determination of both the individual rotamer couplings and the rotamer populations. Consideration of the derived rotamer couplings strongly suggests that the correct assignment for the prochiral C-6 methylene protons in 6FG is that with the 6S proton having the larger coupling to H-5. This is the reverse of the assignment of these protons in D -glucose. In contrast, the assignment of these protons in 6FGA follows that given previously for D -galactose. The relative energies for the conformations about the C-5 C-6 bond for 4FG, 6FG and 6FGA are given from the derived rotamer populations. For 6FGA the rotamer in which the fluorine is antiperiplanar to C-4 is particularly favoured. For 4FG the rotamer with OH anti-periplanar to the ring O is highly unfavoured, but the other two rotamers are of almost equal energy. Consideration of the effect of replacing hydroxyl by fluorine in these molecules indicates that any hydrogen bonding involving the C-4 or C-6 hydroxyls plays little part in determining the conformer energies of glucose or galactose in polar solutions.     

Conversion of adenosine to a pentacyclic structure by a 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide metabolite model.

A new pentacyclic compound $\text{2A}$ has been obtained from the reaction of adenosine $\text{1}$ with 1-acetoxy-4-(acetoxyimino)-1,4-dihydroquinoline $\text{3}$, a model for the ultimate metabolite of the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide. 9-propyladenine $\text{5}$ gives an analogous pentacyclic product $\text{6A}$ whose crystal structure has been determined.     

Biosynthesis of TDP-l-mycarose: the specificity of a single enzyme governs the outcome of the pathway

The biosynthetic pathway for l-mycarose, a 2,6-dideoxy-3-methylhexose found in the antibiotic tylosin produced by Streptomyces fradiae, has been studied with only two genes in the gene cluster, tylK and tylC2, remaining to be characterized. To verify the postulated functions of these two genes and to establish the sequence of events in the pathway, functional analyses of the proteins encoded by tylK and tylC2 were carried out. The results clearly show that TylK functions as the 5-epimerase and TylC2 functions as the 4-ketoreductase. However, both enzymes exhibit relaxed substrate specificity such that the production of TDP-l-mycarose as the sole product of the pathway depends on the absolute specificity of TylC3, a methyltransferase involved in an early step in the pathway. Exploitation of the promiscuous substrate specificity in the late steps of the mycarose pathway could produce new analogues of tylosin as well as other antibiotics containing this sugar.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a 1-deoxy-1,1-difluoro-D-xylulose

[reaction: see text] A new route, of potential strategic importance, to a difluorosugar analogue has been developed. Key steps included a Stille coupling and a highly regio- and enantioselective dihydroxylation of a highly substituted diene. Protecting groups were chosen to enhance the reactivity of the disubstituted allylic fragment in the AD reaction and allow deprotection under orthogonal conditions.     

Biosynthesis of terpenes. Preparation of (E)-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl 4-diphosphate,an intermediate of the deoxyxylulose phosphate pathway

(E)-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl 4-diphosphate (E-6) was synthesized in six reaction steps from hydroxyacetone (9) and (ethoxycarbonylmethenyl)-triphenylphosphorane (11) with an overall yield of 38%. The compound was shown to be identical with the product of IspG protein, which serves as an intermediate in the nonmevalonate terpene biosynthetic pathway.     

Involvement of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway in biosynthesis of aphidicolin-like tetracyclic diterpene of Scoparia dulcis

Specific inhibitors of the MVA pathway (pravastatin) and the MEP pathway (fosmidomycin) were used to interfere with the biosynthetic flux which leads to the production of aphidicolin-like diterpene in leaf organ cultures of Scoparia dulcis. Treatment of leaf organs with fosmidomycin resulted in dose dependent inhibition of chlorophylls, carotenoids, scopadulcic acid B (SDB) and phytol production, and no effect on sterol production was observed. In response to the pravastatin treatment, a significant decrease in sterol and perturbation of SDB production was observed.     

Deoxy-nitrosugars. 17th communication. Synthesis of ketose-derived nucleosides from 1-deoxy-1-nitroribose

A new approach to ketose-derived nucteosides is described. It is based upon a chain elongation of 1-deoxy-1-nitroaldoses, followed by activation of the nitro group as a leaving group, and introduction of a pyrimidine or purine base. Thus, the nitroaldose 7 was prepared from 3 by pivaloylation (→ 4 ), synthesis of the anomeric nitrones 5/6 , and ozonolysis of 6 (Scheme 1). Partial hydrolysis of 4 yielded 8/9 , which were characterized as the acetates 10/11 and transformed into the nitrones 12/13 . Ozonolysis of 12/13 gave 14/15 , which were acetylated to 16/17 . Henry reaction of 7 lead to 19 and 20 , which were acetylated to 21 and 22 (Scheme 2). Michael addition of 7 to acrylonitrile and to methyl propynoate yielded the anomers 23/24 and 25/26 , respectively. Similar reactions of 16/17 were prevented by a facile β-elimination. Therefore, the nitrodiol 15 was transformed into the orthoesters 27 and then, by Henry reaction, partial hydrolysis, and acetylation, into 28 and 29 (Scheme 2). The structure of 19 was established by X-ray analysis. It was the major product of the kinetically controlled Henry reaction of 7 . Similarly, the β-D-configurated nitroaldoses 23 and 25 were the major products of the Michael addition. This indicates a preferred ‘endo’-attack on the nitronate anion derived from 7 . AMI calculations for this anion indicate a strong pyramidalization at C(1), in agreement with an ‘endo’-attack. Nucleosidation of 21 by 31 afforded 32 and 33 . Yields depended strongly upon the nature and the amount of the promoter and reached 77% for 33 , which was transformed into 34 , 35 , and the known ‘psicouridine’ ( 36 ; Scheme 3). To probe the mechanism, the trityl-protected 30 was nucleosidated yielding 37 , or 37 and 38 , depending upon the amount of FeCl₃. Nucleosidation of the nitroacetate 28 was more difficult, required SnCl₂ as a promoter, and yielded 39 and 40 . The β-D-anomer 40 was transformed into 36 . Nucleosidation of 23 (SnCl₄) yielded the anomers 41 and 42 , which were transformed into 43 and 44 , and hence into 45 and 46 (Scheme 4). Similarly, nucleosidation of 25 yielded 47 and 48 , which were deprotected to 49 and 50 , respectively. The nucleoside 49 was saponified to 51 . Nucleosidation of 21 by 52 (SnCl₂) afforded the adenine nucleosides 53 and 54 (Scheme 5). The adenine nucleoside 53 was deprotected (→ 55 → 56 ) to ‘psicofuranine’ (1), which was also obtained from 58 , formed along with 57 by nucleosidation of 28 . The structure and particularly the conformation of the nitroaldoses, nitroketoses, and nucleosides are examined.