Shift to Pseudomonic acid B production in P. fluorescens NCIMB10586 by mutation of mupirocin tailoring genes mupO, mupU, mupV, and macpE

Mupirocin, a polyketide-derived antibiotic from Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB10586, is a mixture of pseudomonic acids (PA) that target isoleucyl-tRNA synthase. The mup gene cluster encodes both type I polyketide synthases and monofunctional enzymes that should play a role during the conversion of the product of the polyketide synthase into the active antibiotic (tailoring). By in-frame deletion analysis of selected tailoring open-reading frames we show that mupQ, mupS, mupT, and mupW are essential for mupirocin production, whereas mupO, mupU, mupV, and macpE are essential for production of PA-A but not PA-B. Therefore, PA-B is not simply produced by hydroxylation of PA-A but is either a precursor of PA-A or a shunt product. In the mupW mutant, a new metabolite lacking the tetrahydropyran ring is produced, implicating mupW in oxidation of the 16-methyl group.     

Preparation and use of 18-fluorine labelled inorganic compounds

2,2,6,6-Tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,3,5-oxadiazines 3 on thermolysis undergo a retro Diels Alder reaction. On elimination of hexafluoroacetone 2 4,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes are formed, which are transformed into 4,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydro-quinazolines 6, 4,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-dihydro-1,3,5-triazines 11, and hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines 20, respectively, depending on the substituents present at the heterodiene skeleton.     

Substitution and redox reactions involving vanadium oxotrifluorine

VOF₃ is soluble in acetonitrile but is slowly reduced to give a vanadyl (IV) species as one product. It reacts rapidly with Me₃SiNet₂ in MeCN below ambient temperature; fluorine is replaced by -NEt₂ ligands but the spectroscopic and magnetic properties of the products indicate that, in addition, reduction to V^IV occurs not some extent. The products are formulated as VOF_3-n(NEt₂)_n containing small quantities of VOF_2-m(NEt₂)_m(NEt₂H) (n = 1-3, m = 0-2). A similar reaction occurs between VOF₃ and Me₃SiOMe but with Me₃SiOSiMe₃ only VO₂F is formed.     

The preparation of copper(II) and copper(I) salts in acetonitrile using group VA and VB pentafluorides

Copper(II) fluorine reacts with the pentafluorides, TaF₅, PF₅, and AsF₅, in acetonitrile to give solvated Cu^II, hexafluoroanion salts. These react with copper metal to give the corresponding Cu^I compounds. Similar reactions occur between AsF₅ and silver(I) or thallium(I) fluorides, but silver(II) fluoride reacts with MeCN, and Ag^I hexafluoroarsenate is formed. PF₅ oxidises Cu slowly in MeCN to give Cu^I hexafluorophosphate, but AsF₅ has no oxidising ability towards metals in MeCN. Spectroscopic data for Cu(MF₆)₂·5MeCN and Cu(MF₆)·4MeCN (M = Ta or P) are discussed.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF meso-TETRAPHENYLPORPHYRIN and SOME meso-TETRA(HYDROXYPHENYL)PORPHYRINS

Abstract— The o-, m-, and p-isomers of 5, 10, 15, 20- tetra(hydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin have been of recent interest as potential second-generation sensitisers in tumour phototherapy. Fluorescence spectroscopy, nanosecond laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis have been used to characterise the singlet and triplet excited states of tetraphenylporphyrin and the o, m-, and p-isomers of tetra(hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin. This has included evaluation of fluorescence yields and lifetimes, triplet spectra, lifetimes, oxygen quenching rate constants, extinction coefficients, and yields and singlet oxygen yields. Whilst the fluorescence quantum yields were low, the triplet yields were all 0.7 ± 10% and the singlet oxygen yields 0.6 ± 10%: all these parameters are in the ranges shown by other efficient porphyrin photosensitisers. The similar photophysical properties found for these compounds suggest that their differing tumour sensitising efficiencies are likely to be due to other factors.     

First in vitro directed biosynthesis of new compounds by a minimal type II polyketide synthase: evidence for the mechanism of chain length determination

The minimal actinorhodin polyketide synthase bearing two point mutations (KSbeta Q161A, ACP C17S) was chemically modified to carry novel C4 to C8 starter units on the ACP: on incubation with an excess of malonyl CoA new 16-carbon polyketides are made, supporting a measuring mechanism.     

Uranium (V) fluorides

Rhenium and uranium hexafluorides oxidise iodine in iodine pentafluoride at ambient temperature to give the I₂⁺ cation. With UF₆ additional reaction occurs to give β-uranium pentafluoride as one product (J.A. Berry, A. Prescott, D.W.A. Sharp, and J.M. Winfield, $\text{J. Fluorine Chem}$., 1977, $\text{10}$, 247). Further work on the latter reaction together with an electronic spectroscopic study of the oxidation of I₂ by phosphorus pentafluoride in IF₅, suggests that the fate of the I₂⁺ cation depends on the nature and quantity of the oxidising agent. Oxidation of I₂ by PF₅ can be conveniently followed by monitoring its visible spectrum. The reaction occurs over several hours and eventually an apparent equilibrium between I₂ and I₂⁺ results. Formation of I₂⁺UF₆^?is rapid and, with the mole ratio UF₆:I₂ > 10:1, UF₅ is precipitated rapidly from solution, I₂⁺ being oxidised further, apparently to IF₅. With a smaller UF₆:I₂ mole ratio UF₅ is contaminated by I₂, the latter is presumed to result from the disproportion-ation of an I^I or I^III fluoride.β-UF₅ is very soluble in acetonitrile and reacts with thallium(I) fluoride in this solvent to give Tl^IUF₆. It reacts with trimethyl(methoxo)silane to give (CH₃)₃SiF, U(OCH₃)₅, and an insoluble solid, believed to be a mixture of U^V methoxide, fluorides. Both reactions are conveniently followed by near i.r. spectroscopy.