Multicomponent synthesis of hydrazino depsipeptides

Hydrazino depsipeptides, a new class of backbone extended peptidomimetics were prepared by the Passerini reaction of α-hydrazino acids, carbonyl compounds and isocyanides.

Synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyridazines via catalyst-free self [4 + 2] cycloaddition of in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes

An efficient method for the synthesis of structurally diverse functionalized tetrahydropyridazines via self [4 + 2] cycloaddition of in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes was developed, which may play an important role in drug discovery.

Solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydropyridazinedione-constrained peptides

The design and solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydropyridazine-3,6-dione (Tpd) peptidomimetics derived from backbone-aminated peptides is reported. The described protocol features the synthesis of chiral α-hydrazino acids suitable for chemoselective incorporation into growing peptide chains. Acid-catalyzed cyclization to form the Tpd ring during cleavage affords the target peptidomimetics in good yield and purity. The scope of Tpd incorporation is demonstrated through the synthesis of constrained peptides featuring nucleophilic/electrophilic side chains and sterically encumbered α-substituted hydrazino acid residues.

Efficient and regiospecific syntheses of peptides with piperazic and dehydropiperazic acids via a multicomponent reaction

Peptides containing N2-acyl piperazic or 1,6-dehydropiperazic acids can be formed efficiently via a novel multicomponent reaction of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridazines, isocyanides, and carboxylic acids. Remarkably, the reaction's induced intramolecularity can enable the regiospecific formation of products with N2-acyl piperazic acid, which counters the intrinsic and troublesome propensity for piperazic acids to react at N1 in acylations. The utility of the methodology is demonstrated in the synthesis of the bicyclic core of the interleukin-1β converting enzyme inhibitor, Pralnacasan.

Biosynthetic modularity rules in the bisintercalator family of antitumor compounds

Diverse actinomycetes produce a family of structurally and biosynthetically related non-ribosomal peptide compounds which belong to the chromodepsipeptide family. These compounds act as bisintercalators into the DNA helix. They give rise to antitumor, antiparasitic, antibacterial and antiviral bioactivities. These compounds show a high degree of conserved modularity (chromophores, number and type of amino acids). This modularity and their high sequence similarities at the genetic level imply a common biosynthetic origin for these pathways. Here, we describe insights about rules governing this modular biosynthesis, taking advantage of the fact that nowadays five of these gene clusters have been made public (thiocoraline, triostin, SW-163 and echinomycin/quinomycin). This modularity has potential application for designing and producing novel genetic engineered derivatives, as well as for developing new chemical synthesis strategies. These would facilitate their clinical development.

Identification and characterization of the biosynthetic gene cluster of polyoxypeptin A, a potent apoptosis inducer

BACKGROUND

Polyoxypeptin A was isolated from a culture broth of Streptomyces sp. MK498-98 F14, which has a potent apoptosis-inducing activity towards human pancreatic carcinoma AsPC-1 cells. Structurally, polyoxypeptin A is composed of a C₁₅ acyl side chain and a nineteen-membered cyclodepsipeptide core that consists of six unusual nonproteinogenic amino acid residues (N-hydroxyvaline, 3-hydroxy-3-methylproline, 5-hydroxypiperazic acid, N-hydroxyalanine, piperazic acid, and 3-hydroxyleucine) at high oxidation states.

RESULTS

A gene cluster containing 37 open reading frames (ORFs) has been sequenced and analyzed for the biosynthesis of polyoxypeptin A. We constructed 12 specific gene inactivation mutants, most of which abolished the production of polyoxypeptin A and only ΔplyM mutant accumulated a dehydroxylated analogue polyoxypeptin B. Based on bioinformatics analysis and genetic data, we proposed the biosynthetic pathway of polyoxypeptin A and biosynthetic models of six unusual amino acid building blocks and a PKS extender unit.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified gene cluster and proposed pathway for the biosynthesis of polyoxypeptin A will pave a way to understand the biosynthetic mechanism of the azinothricin family natural products and provide opportunities to apply combinatorial biosynthesis strategy to create more useful compounds.

Hytramycins V and I, anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis hexapeptides from a Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain

Thirty-five thousand actinomycete extracts were screened for anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) activity, followed by C18 cartridge fractionation of 37 prioritized extracts. Based on MICs against replicating and nonreplicating M. tb, and IC50 values against Vero cells to generate selectivity indices, seven fractions from seven different strains were selected for further examination. When cultured in G.S.S. media and extracted with ethyl acetate, the Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain ECUM 14046 yielded an extract with promising anti-M. tb activity and a well-defined chromatographic profile. Fractionation by preparative HPLC and subsequent structure elucidation of two active fractions using 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS methods revealed the presence of two cyclohexapeptides, hytramycins V and I, each containing three unusual piperazic acid moieties. The use of (1)H iterative full spin analysis (HiFSA) on both hytramycins confirmed that quantum mechanics-simulated spectra match the experimental data, and all J(H,H) and δH values are consistent with the proposed structures. The absolute configuration of each amino acid moiety was determined by Marfey's method. The MICs against replicating and, more importantly, nonreplicating M. tb fall into the range of some existing second-line anti-TB drugs, such as streptomycin and capreomycin, respectively. The activities were maintained against M. tb strains that represent the major global clades, as well as H37Rv-isogenic strains that are resistant to individual clinical anti-TB drugs.

Total synthesis of the cytotoxic enehydrazide natural products hydrazidomycins A and B by a carbazate addition/Peterson olefination approach

The first total syntheses of two natural antitumor enehydrazide compounds (hydrazidomycins A and B) and a related positional isomer of hydrazidomycin B (elaiomycin B) have been accomplished in a rapid and stereocontrolled fashion using a Peterson elimination approach. A regioselective silyl epoxide ring opening reaction with Boc-carbazate followed by base-mediated Peterson siloxide elimination stereospecifically installed the key Z-enehydrazide functionality. The use of Boc-carbazate allowed for the differential functionalization of the hydrazide nitrogens.

Natural products containing a nitrogen-nitrogen bond

As of early 2013, over 200 natural products are known to contain a nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N) bond. This report categorizes these compounds by structural class and details their isolation and biological activity.

Structural analysis of HmtT and HmtN involved in the tailoring steps of himastatin biosynthesis

Himastatin is a novel antibiotic featuring a bicyclohexadepsipeptide structure. On the himastatin biosynthesis pathway, three cytochrome P450s (HmtT, HmtN, HmtS) are responsible for the post-tailoring of the cyclohexadepsipeptide backbone. Here we report the crystal structures of HmtT and HmtN. The overall structures of these two proteins are homologous to other cytochrome P450s. However, the exceptionally long F-G loop in HmtT has a highly unusual conformation and extends deep into the active site. As a result, the F/G helices of HmtT are both kinked. In contrast, the F/G helices of HmtN are straight. Also, the F/G helices in HmtT and HmtN take distinctive orientations, which may be a contributing factor for the substrate specificity of these two enzymes.

Biosynthesis of piperazic acid via N5-hydroxy-ornithine in Kutzneria spp. 744

Which came first? We have investigated the biosynthesis of the piperazic acid (Piz) building blocks in the kutzneride family of metabolites. The flavin-dependent oxygenase KtzI was shown to convert ornithine to N(5)-OH-Orn. LC-MS/MS showed (13)C(5)-labeled versions of these two amino acids to be direct precursors of piperazic acid in vivo.