Identification of the function of gene lndM2 encoding a bifunctional oxygenase-reductase involved in the biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic landomycin E by Streptomyces globisporus 1912 supports the originally assigned structure for landomycinone

The angucycline antibiotic family of the landomycins displays potent antitumor activity. To elucidate early post polyketide synthase (PKS) tailoring steps of the landomycin E biosynthetic pathway in Streptomyces globisporus 1912, the mutant S. globisporus M12 was prepared through gene replacement experiment of lndM2. It encodes an enzyme with putative oxygenase and reductase domains, according to sequencing of the gene and its counterpart lanM2 from S. cyanogenus S136 landomycin A biosynthetic gene cluster. The isolation of the novel shunt products 11-hydroxytetrangomycin and 4-hydroxytetrangomycin along with the well-known angucyclines tetrangomycin and tetrangulol from the culture of S. globisporus M12 provides evidence for the involvement of lndM2 in the early biosynthetic pathway of the landomycins, in particular in the formation of the alicyclic 6-hydroxy function of the landomycin aglycon. We therefore propose LndM2 to be responsible for both hydroxylation of the 6-position and its subsequent reduction. These reactions are necessary before the glycosylation reactions can occur. The results are in agreement with the originally published structure of landomycin but do not support the recently suggested revised structure.     

Ultratrace analysis of uranium and thorium in glass

Three methods of determination for uranium and thorium traces and ultratraces in glass were developed: a simple and powerful ICP-MS method exhibiting limits of determination in the one ng/g-range; a complex method with end-determination by classical photometry and a limit of determination for U and Th of 20 ng/g; and a method with chelate-complex formation for U and Th and subsequent GC-detection with a ⁶³Ni-ECD with limits of determination in the g/g-range. These methods are critically compared and tested for real type samples of special glasses.Abbreviations used AAS Atomic absorption spectrophotometry - ECD Electron capture detector - FOD 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptafluoro-7,7-dimethyl-4,6-octanedion - GC Gas chromatography - HFA 1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione - ICP-AES, -MS Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, metry, -mass spectrometry - LAS Liquid absorption spectrophotometry = classical photometry - NAA Neutron activation analysis - NIST National Institute of Standardization and Technology (Gaithersburg, U.S.A.) - TBP Tri-(n-butyl)-phosphate - TFA 1,1,1-Trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione - TTFA 1-(2-Thenoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetone - XRS X-ray (fluorescence) spectrometry     

Generation of new landomycins by combinatorial biosynthetic manipulation of the LndGT4 gene of the landomycin E cluster in S. globisporus

A 3 kb DNA fragment from the Streptomyces globisporus 1912 landomycin E (LaE) biosynthetic gene cluster (lnd) was completely sequenced. Three open reading frames were identified, lndGT4, lndZ4, and lndZ5, whose probable translation products resemble a glycosyltransferase, a reductase, and a hydroxylase, respectively. Studies of generated mutants from disruption and complementation experiments involving the lndGT4 gene allowed us to determine that LndGT4 controls the terminal L-rhodinose sugar attachment during LaE biosynthesis and that LndZ4/LndZ5 are responsible for the unique C11-hydroxylation of the landomycins. Generation of the novel landomycins F, G, and H in the course of these studies provided evidence for the flexibility of lnd glycosyltransferases toward their acceptor substrates and a basis for initial structure-activity relationships within the landomycin family of antibiotics.     

A study of coupling conditions in sub-threshold fission of Np by means of gamma-ray spectra

Neutron radiative capture at ²³⁷Np resonances has been studied with Ge(Li) and NaI detectors. From the observed spectra it is concluded that the intermediate structure in sub-threshold fission of ²³⁷Np is due to broad intermediate states with very small spreading width.     

SUBPOL: a novel SUcrose-Based Polymer support for solid-phase peptide synthesis and affinity chromatography applications

A novel SUcrose-Based Polymer support (SUBPOL) with tailored morphology suitable for the use in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is described, and its application as a hydrophilic affinity matrix for the specific removal of fibrinogen from human plasma is demonstrated. After suspension polymerization of partly methacrylated 2,1':4,6-di-O-isopropylidene sucrose and subsequent removal of the protecting groups, hydrophilic spherical polymer beads were obtained. The morphology of the resulting resin was controlled by variation of the porogen as well as the average degree of substitution with respect to the methacryloyl groups of the monomer mixture. After introduction of amino groups for a permanent attachment of immobilized peptide ligands, prevention of unintended esterification during SPPS was achieved by silylation of remaining hydroxy groups. Alternatively, a Rink amide linker was introduced prior to SPPS to allow cleavage and subsequent analysis of the peptide assembled on the SUBPOL resins. Two hexapeptides of sequence kwiivw and hffflw, consisting of d-amino acids, as well as a 19-mer peptide corresponding to the sequence GSGVRGDFGSLAPRVARQL of the VP1 protein from the foot-and-mouse disease virus (FMDV) were successfully prepared both manually or in a semi-automated process on SUBPOL resins according to the Fmoc/tBu strategy. Yields and purities were comparable to peptides prepared on commercially available polystyrene resins. A specific affinity adsorbent containing the fibrinogen-binding pentapeptide GPRPK was prepared by SPPS on SUBPOL resins of different morphology, and the strong impact of the affinity matrix on adsorption performance was demonstrated.