Polyketide Synthase-Mediated O-Methyloxime Formation in the Biosynthesis of the Oximidine Anticancer Agents

Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) are modular megaenzymes that employ unusual catalytic domains to assemble diverse bioactive natural products. One such PKS is responsible for the biosynthesis of the oximidine anticancer agents, oxime-substituted benzolactone enamides that inhibit vacuolar H⁺-ATPases. Here, we describe the identification of the oximidine gene cluster in Pseudomonas baetica and the characterization of four novel oximidine variants, including a structurally simpler intermediate that retains potent anticancer activity. Using a combination of in vivo, in vitro and computational approaches, we experimentally elucidate the oximidine biosynthetic pathway and reveal an unprecedented mechanism for O-methyloxime formation. We show that this process involves a specialized monooxygenase and methyltransferase domain and provide insight into their activity, mechanism and specificity. Our findings expand the catalytic capabilities of trans-AT PKSs and identify potential strategies for the production of novel oximidine analogues.     

Effect of the metal environment on the ferromagnetic interaction in the Co-NC-W pairs of octacyanotungstate(V)-Cobalt(II) three-dimensional networks

State of the art CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations have been performed to elucidate the nature of ferromagnetism of CoII-NC-WV pairs in the three-dimensional compound [[WV(CN)2]2[(micro-CN)4CoII(H2O)2]3.4H2O]n, which has been recently synthesized and investigated by a number of experimental techniques (Herrera, J. M.; Bleuzen, A.; Dromzée, Y.; Julve, M.; Lloret, F.; Verdaguer, M. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 7052-7059). In this network, the Co ions are in the high-spin (S = 3/2) state, while the single unpaired electron on the W centers occupies the lowest orbital of the dz2 type of the 5d shell. In agreement with the suggestion made by Herrera et al., we find that the ferromagnetism is due to a certain occupation scheme of the orbitals from the parent octahedral t2g shell on CoII sites, in which the orbital accommodating the unpaired electron is orthogonal to the dz2 orbitals of the surrounding W ions. We investigate the stabilization of such an orbital configuration on the Co sites and find that it cannot be achieved in the ground state of isolated mononuclear fragments [CoII(NC)4(OH2)2]2- for any conformations of the coordinated water molecules and Co-N-C bond angles. On the other hand, it is stabilized by the interaction of the complex with neighboring W ions, which are simulated here by effective potentials. The calculated exchange coupling constants for the CoII-NC-WV binuclear fragments are in reasonable agreement with the measured Curie-Weiss constant for this compound. As additional evidence for the inferred electronic configuration on the Co sites, the ligand-field transitions, the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and the field-dependent low-temperature magnetization, simulated ab initio for the mononuclear Co fragments, are in agreement with the available data for another compound [WIV[(micro-CN)4-CoII(H2O)2]2.4H2O]n containing diamagnetic W and high-spin Co ions in an isostructural environment.     

A CASPT2 study of the electronic spectrum of hexacyanoosmate(III)

CASPT2 calculations reveal that the ligand field splitting parameter Delta(o) of [Os(CN)6]3- is much higher than previously proposed values of +/-38,000 cm(-1). In line with the expected increase down a transition-metal group, Delta(o) is found to be +/-55,000 cm(-1), excluding the possible appearance of ligand field transitions in the UV-vis spectrum. Instead, the calculations confirm that the observed spectrum arises from the three lowest symmetry-allowed ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) excitations. Spin-orbit coupling in the ground state is found to be about 4350 cm(-1), leading to a spin-orbit coupling constant zeta of +/-2900 cm(-1). Spin-orbit coupling in the 2T(1u) LMCT states is found not to be negligible, contrary to previous belief.     

Synthesis of 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives applying titanium-mediated reaction conditions

The titanium-mediated cyclopropanation reaction using Ti(OⁱPr)₃Me/EtMgBr/BF₃·OEt₂ has been applied to various 2-cyanopyrrolidines for the synthesis of functionalized 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives (dideoxyiminoalditols). Under the same experimental conditions the trans-5-azidomethyl-2-cyanopyrrolidine derivative was not cyclopropanated but reduced into the corresponding 5-amino-2-cyano derivative. After polyol deprotection 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diols were obtained and their inhibitory activity towards 13 glycosidases has been evaluated. (2S,3S,4R,5S)-2-(1-Aminocyclopropyl)-5-methylpyrrolidine-3,4-diol (38), which has the same absolute configuration as l-fucose, is a moderate (IC₅₀=44 μM), but selective, inhibitor of α-l-fucosidase from human placenta.     

Fourteen-electron ring model and the anomalous magnetic circular dichroism of meso-triarylsubporphyrins

The MCD spectra of meso-triarylsubporphyrins show a sign anomaly which is correlated with the acceptor properties of the aryl substituent. From the spectra, magnetic moments of the excited states are determined. In the context of a simplified orbital model, the sign change is attributed to the quenching of the magnetic moment of the LUMO by acceptor orbitals of the substituent. The actual calculation of this moment presents a major challenge to computational methods. It is shown that wave function techniques based on CASSCF underestimate the covalency effects that are responsible for the quenching. In contrast, a CI method based on DFT orbitals yields excellent results, which fully support the orbital model.     

Lattice-Boltzmann model for dissolution phenomena

We briefly review the modelling of complex dissolution phenomena using a lattice Boltzmann formulation. The model can describe both diffusion- and reaction-controlled dissolution of arbitrarily shaped solid phases, possibly giving rise to thermosolutal natural convection. Applications of the model are discussed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magnetic anisotropy of [Mo(CN)7]4- anions and fragments of cyano-bridged magnetic networks

Quantum chemistry calculations of CASSCF/CASPT2 level together with ligand field analysis are used for the investigation of magnetic anisotropy of [Mo(CN)7]4- complexes. We have considered three types of heptacyano environments: two ideal geometries, a pentagonal bipyramid and a capped trigonal prism, and the heptacyanomolybdate fragment of the cyano-bridged magnetic network K2[Mn(H2O)2]3[Mo(CN)7]2.6H2O. At all geometries the first excited Kramers doublet is found remarkably close to the ground one due to a small orbital energy gap in the ligand field spectrum, which ranges between a maximal value in the capped trigonal prism (800 cm(-1)) and zero in the pentagonal bipyramid. The small value of this gap explains (i) the axial form of the g tensor and (ii) the strong magnetic anisotropy even in strongly distorted complexes. Comparison with available experimental data for the g tensor of the mononuclear precursors reveals good agreement with the present calculations for the capped trigonal prismatic complex and a significant discrepancy for the pentagonal bipyramidal one. The calculations for the heptacyanomolybdate fragment of K2[Mn(H2O)2]3[Mo(CN)7]2.6H2O give g(perpendicular)/g(parallel) approximately 0.5 and the orientation of the local anisotropy axis close to the symmetry axis of an idealized pentagonal bipyramid. These findings are expected to be important for the understanding of the magnetism of anisotropic Mo(III)-Mn(II) cyano-bridged networks based on the [Mo(CN)7]4- building block.     

Methyl side-chain dynamics in proteins using selective enrichment with a single isotopomer

13C relaxation studies on side-chain methyl groups in proteins typically involve measurements on (13)CHD(2) isotopomers, where the (13)C relaxation mechanism is particularly straightforward in the presence of a single proton. While such isotopomers can be obtained in proteins overexpressed in bacteria by use of (13)C enriched and fractionally deuterated media, invariably all possible (2)H isotopomers are obtained. This results in a loss of both resolution and sensitivity, which becomes particularly severe for larger proteins. We describe an approach that overcomes this problem by chemical synthesis of amino acids containing a pure (13)CHD(2) isotopomer. We illustrate the benefits of this approach in (13)C side-chain relaxation measurements on the mouse major urinary protein selectively enriched with [gamma(1),gamma(2)-(13)C(2),alpha,beta,gamma(1),gamma(1),gamma(2),gamma(2)-(2)H(6)] valine. Relaxation measurements in the absence and presence of pyrazine-derived ligands suggest that valine side-chain dynamics do not contribute significantly to binding entropy.