Dual carbamoylations on the polyketide and glycosyl moiety by asm21 result in extended ansamitocin biosynthesis

Carbamoylation is one of the post-PKS modifications in ansamitocin biosynthesis. A novel ansamitocinoside with carbamoyl substitution at the C-4 hydroxyl group of the N-β-D-glucosyl moiety was identified from the ansamitocin producer, Actinosynnema pretiosum. Through biotransformation, the carbamoyltransferase gene asm21 was suggested to be responsible for the carbamoylation of the glucosyl moiety. Three new derivatives without the backbone carbamoyl group were isolated from an asm21 mutant and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Among them, 18-O-methyl-19-chloroproansamitocin was the major product and the preferred substrate for macrolactam C-7 carbamoylation by Asm21. However, Asm21 exhibited higher catalytic efficiency toward the glucosyl moiety. Furthermore, the dual carbamoylations and N-glycosylation were precisely demonstrated in vivo. This work represents the first biochemical characterization of an O-carbamoyltransferase performing dual actions on both a polyketide backbone and a glycosyl moiety during ansamitocin biosynthesis.     

High throughput identification of components from traditional Chinese medicine herbs by utilizing graphene or graphene oxide as MALDI-TOF-MS matrix

In this work, graphene or graphene oxide was utilized, for the first time, to identify small molecular components from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs, by acting as matrix of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Due to the large surface area of graphene or graphene oxide, the analytes were trapped tightly to the matrix, which avoids the contamination of the ion source and vacuum system. Besides, their excellent electronic, thermal and mechanical properties make them desired matrices for MALDI-TOF-MS. Stable analysis was achieved with no background inference even at the concentration of 100 nM. Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) could be greatly lowered by utilizing graphene or graphene oxide as a pre-enrichment adsorbent. In summary, the promoted MALDI-TOF-MS methodology was demonstrated to be simple, sensitive, fast, cost effective and, most importantly, high throughput.     

Feeding deterrents against two grain storage insects from Euphorbia fischeriana

The screening of several Chinese medicinal herbs for insecticidal principles showed that Euphorbia fischeriana roots possessed significant feeding deterrent activity against two stored-product insects (Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus zeamais). From ethanol extract, four feeding deterrents were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compounds were identified as jolkinolide B, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-(9Z)-octadecenoate 20-acetate, 17-hydroxyjolkinolide A and B on the basis of their phytochemical and spectral data. Jolkinolide B and 17-hydroxyjolkinolide B possessed strong feeding deterrent activities against S. zeamais (EC?? = 342.1 and 543.9 ppm, respectively) and T. castaneum adults (E?? = 361.4 and 551.5 ppm, respectively). 17-Hydroxyjolkinolide A and 12-deoxyphorbol 13-(9Z)-octadecenoate 20-acetate A also exhibited feeding deterrent activity against the two grain storage insects with EC?? values of 631.9 and 884.3 ppm for S. zeamais and 656.5 and 1058.4 ppm for T. castaneum adults.     

Immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide-protein complex of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) pulp

The immunomodulatory function of longan pulp polysaccharide-protein complex (LP3) was investigated in immunosuppressed mice models. Compared with the model control, peroral administration of 100 mgkg?1d?1 LP3 could significantly increase/enhance antibody production against chicken red blood cell (CRBC), concanavalin A (ConA)-induced splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell, and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in serum (P < 0.05). The immunomodulatory effects, except for those on splenocytes and macrophages (P > 0.05), were also observed in mice administered with 50 or 200 mgkg?1d?1 LP3 (P < 0.05). The beneficial effects of 50-200 mgkg?1d?1 LP3 were comparable to those of 50 mgkg?1d?1 ganoderan. The strong immunomodulatory activity of LP3 confirmed its good potential as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant.     

Impact of sugar stereochemistry on natural killer T cell stimulation by bacterial glycolipids

Natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize glycolipids produced by Sphingomonas bacteria, and these glycolipids contain C6-oxidized sugars, either glucuronic acid or galacturonic acid, linked to ceramides. Glycolipids with gluco stereochemistry are the most prevalent. Multiple studies have demonstrated that galactosylceramides are more potent stimulators of NKT cells than their glucose isomers. To determine if this stereoselectivity is retained in the context of the C6-oxidized sugars found in bacterial glycolipids, we prepared two sets of gluco and galacto-glycolipids oxidized at their C6 positions and compared their NKT stimulatory properties. In the context of carboxylic acid groups at C6, gluco stereochemistry gave the more potent responses. We also prepared bacterial glycolipids containing more complex ceramide groups to determine if these chains impact NKT cell responses.     

A covalently-linked microporous organic-inorganic hybrid framework containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane moieties

By a Yamamoto-type of Ullmann cross-coupling reaction, a well-defined covalently-linked microporous organic-inorganic hybrid framework polyoctaphenylsilsesquioxane (JUC-Z1) was effectively prepared from the nano building block p-iodio-octaphenylsilsesquioxane (I8OPS) with a yield of ca. 100%. The structure of JUC-Z1 was characterized by (13)C CP/MAS NMR and (29)Si MAS NMR experiments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to confirm the presence of functions in the framework. The results showed that inorganic silsesquioxane cubes were linearly covalently-linked by biphenyls, offering a highly cross-coupling framework. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern and transmission electron microscope (TEM) image show that JUC-Z1 is spherical with uniform micropores. N(2) adsorption results suggest that the hybrid framework has a narrow pore size distribution from 11.8 to 20.0 ?, with a BET surface area of 283 m(2)g(-1) and a pore volume of 0.226 cm(3)g(-1). A thermogravimetric (TG) analysis indicates the thermal stability of JUC-Z1 up to 397 °C in air. Moreover, a liquid sorption experiment reveals the favorable sorption of benzene and water.     

Synthesis of 2-azaanthracenes via a sequential Sonogashira coupling/alkynyl imine-allenyl imine isomerization/aza-Diels-Alder/elimination-aromatization reaction

An interesting sequential Sonogashira coupling/alkynyl imine-allenyl imine isomerization/aza-Diels-Alder/elimination-aromatization reaction, providing a facile synthesis of substituted 2-azaanthracenes from 1,6-diynes and imidoyl chlorides, is reported. The easy procedure accessing the products efficiently from readily available starting materials may imply a potential synthetic application.     

Interplay of olefin metathesis and multiple hydrogen bonding interactions: covalently cross-linked zippers

Hydrogen-bonded zippers bearing terminal alkene groups were treated with Grubbs' catalyst, leading to covalently cross-linked zippers without violating H-bonding sequence specificity. The yield of a cross-linked zipper depended on the stability of its H-bonded precursor, with a weakly associating pair giving reasonable yields only at high concentrations while strongly associating pairs showed nearly quantitative yields. The integration of thermodynamic (H-bonding) and kinetic (irreversible C═C bond formation) processes suggests the possibility of developing many different covalent association units for constructing molecular structures based on a self-assembling way.     

Tandem reaction of propargylic alcohol, sulfonamide, and N-iodosuccinimide: synthesis of N-(2-iodoinden-1-yl)arenesulfonamide

An efficient and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of N-(2-haloinden-1-yl)arenesulfonamides from propargylic alcohols and sulfonamides is described. Allenesulfonamide is postulated to be the key intermediate for this tandem transformation.     

Three-component and nonclassical reaction of phosphines with enynes and aldehydes: formation of γ-lactones featuring α-phosphorus ylides

Inverted carbenoid species, generated from attack of phosphines at the α(δ')-carbon of hex-2-en-4-ynedioic acid dialkyl esters, react with aldehydes to give γ-lactones possessing an α-phosphorus ylide moiety.