Reconstitution of Biosynthetic Machinery for the Synthesis of the Highly Elaborated Indole Diterpene Penitrem

Penitrem A is one of the most elaborated members of the fungal indole diterpenes. Two separate penitrem gene clusters were identified using genomic and RNA sequencing data, and 13 out of 17 transformations in the penitrem biosynthesis were elucidated by heterologous reconstitution of the relevant genes. These reactions involve 1) a prenylation‐initiated cationic cyclization to install the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane skeleton (PtmE), 2) a two‐step P450‐catalyzed oxidative processes forming the unique tricyclic penitrem skeleton (PtmK and PtmU), and 3) five sequential oxidative transformations (PtmKULNJ). Importantly, without conventional gene disruption, reconstitution of the biosynthetic machinery provided sufficient data to determine the pathway. It was thus demonstrated that the Aspergillus oryzae reconstitution system is a powerful method for studying the biosynthesis of complex natural products.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Isoschizogamine

The total synthesis of (?)‐isoschizogamine was accomplished, featuring the construction of the quaternary carbon center by the modified Johnson–Claisen rearrangement in basic media and the facile assembly of the key tetracyclic quinolone intermediate through a cascade cyclization. The characteristic cyclic aminal was constructed by late‐stage C?H functionalization at the position adjacent to the lactam nitrogen using a combination of CrO₃ and nBu₄NIO₄ and subsequent Bi(OTf)₃‐mediated cyclization.     

Synthesis of the C22-C37 segment of prorocentin

The synthesis of the C22-C37 segment of prorocentin, isolated from the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima, was achieved. Because the relative stereochemical relationship between C26 and other stereocenters (C28/C31/C32 established as R*/R*/R*) in the C22-C37 region of natural prorocentin has not yet been determined, both epimers at C26 of the C22-C37 segment were selectively constructed. The synthesis was based on a 5-exo epoxide ring opening reaction to form an oxolane (E-ring), Brown asymmetric methallylation to install the C26-stereocenter, acryloylation of the resulting alcohol, and ring-closing olefin metathesis to establish the Z-olefin at C23/C24.     

Remarkable synergistic effect between MonBI and MonBII on epoxide opening reaction in ionophore polyether monensin biosynthesis

Enzymatic epoxide-opening cascade is one of the key biosynthetic processes for constructing structurally diverse polyethers. Here we report the first in vitro analysis of the cyclization catalyzed by two epoxide hydrolases, MonBI and MonBII involved in monensin biosynthesis, using simple epoxy-alcohols and the unprecedented synergistic effect on the epoxide-opening activity between these epoxide hydrolases.     

Electron excitation of the Schumann-Runge continuum, longest band, and second band electronic states in O2

We report measurements of differential and integral cross sections for electron excitation of the Schumann-Runge continuum, longest band, and second band electronic states in molecular oxygen. The energy range of the present study is 15-200 eV, with the angular range of the differential cross section (DCS) measurements from 2 to 130°. A generalized oscillator strength analysis is then employed in order to derive integral cross sections (ICSs) from the corresponding DCSs, and these ICSs are compared with relevant energy and oscillator strength scaled Born cross section (BEf-scaling [Y.-K. Kim, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 064305 (2007)]) results determined as a part of this investigation. Interestingly, while the present Schumann-Runge continuum and second band ICSs were in reasonable agreement with the respective BEf-scaling results, agreement for the longest band was poor below 100 eV with a possible reason for this apparently anomalous behavior being canvassed here. Finally, where possible all present data are compared with the results from earlier measurements and calculations with the level of agreement found being very good in some cases and marginal in others.     

Spin glasses and information

After a brief introduction to information theory, we review the close relationship between the theory of spin glasses and information processing, error-correcting codes in particular. An interesting equivalence of the solvability condition of the spin glass problem and the optimal inference condition in information theory is pointed out.     

γ-poly(glutamic acid) as an initiator of cationic polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone

The cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by biosynthesized γ-poly(glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) powder surface was carried out in a heterogeneous system. It was found that the polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVPD) is initiated by γ-PGA powder. The grafting of polymers onto γ-PGA surface was scarcely observed. The apparent activation energy of the polymerization of NVC and NVPD was estimated to be 20.2 and 24.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The polymerization was totally inhibited by the addition of triethylamine and pyridine, but not hydroquinone. The polymerization rate in nitrobenzene was larger than that in toluene. These results indicated the cationic nature of the polymerization. γ-PGA treated with KOH did not show the initiating activity of the polymerization. Therefore, carboxyl groups on γ-PGA powder surface play an important role in the initiation of the polymerization. It may be suggested that the polymerization is initiated by proton addition to monomer from carboxyl groups on γ-PGA powder surface and the propagation proceeds with carboxylate anion on the surface as counter ion. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Generation of NH-azomethine imine intermediates through the 1,2-hydrogen shift of hydrazones and their intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles

The thermal 1,2-hydrogen shift of the hydrazone generates the NH-azomethine imine intermediate in the 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carbaldehyde system under mild conditions. Therein, the resulting NH-azomethine imine should be stabilized by forming an internal hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen at the 4-position. Its smooth stereoselective intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles giving pyrazolidine derivatives is discussed.