A new aminopeptidase inhibitor from Streptomyces strain HCCB10043 found by UPLC–MS

Chemically synthesized LYRM03 could inhibit the metastasis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and in vivo

Aminopeptidase N (APN) belongs to the aminopeptidase family, which is widely distributed throughout the animal and plant kingdoms. APN is thought to be a very important target for cancer therapy as it is linked to cancer progression and metastasis. However, bestatin (Ubenimex) is the only approved drug that targets various aminopeptidases for the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia and lymphedema. A compound 3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoylvalylisoleucine (also known as LYRM03), isolated from a Streptomyces strain HCCB10043, exhibited more potent inhibitory activity than bestatin. In this work, we applied a chemical synthesis strategy to generate LYRM03 to overcome the low yields typically achieved from fermentation. Finally, we explored a suite of experiments to determine the bioactivity of LYRM03 and revealed that the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly restrained with LYRM03 treatment or injection both in vitro and in vivo. Because of its anti-metastasis capacity, further structure modifications of LYRM03 will be of interest for its use alone or in combination as a therapy in cancer.

Two novel quinomycins discovered by UPLC-MS from Stretomyces sp. HCCB11876

Two novel quinomycins I (1) and J (3) were discovered by UPLC-MS, then the two novel compounds and five known quinomycins A(2), B(4), E(5), C(6) and monosulfoxide quinomycin (7) were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. HCCB11876. The structures of these compounds were elucidated through MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-7 showed significant antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. The structure-activity relationship indicated that sulfoxide group in N-methylcysteine of quinomycins (1, 3 and 7) would significantly decrease the antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, the antibacterial and cytotoxic activities were decreased with the increase of carbon chain in amino-acid residues.

Comparative Genomics Analysis of Streptomyces Species Reveals Their Adaptation to the Marine Environment and Their Diversity at the Genomic Level

Over 200 genomes of streptomycete strains that were isolated from various environments are available from the NCBI. However, little is known about the characteristics that are linked to marine adaptation in marine-derived streptomycetes. The particularity and complexity of the marine environment suggest that marine streptomycetes are genetically diverse. Here, we sequenced nine strains from the Streptomyces genus that were isolated from different longitudes, latitudes, and depths of the South China Sea. Then we compared these strains to 22 NCBI downloaded streptomycete strains. Thirty-one streptomycete strains are clearly grouped into a marine-derived subgroup and multiple source subgroup-based phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic analyses have revealed the dynamic process underlying streptomycete genome evolution, and lateral gene transfer is an important driving force during the process. Pan-genomics analyses have revealed that streptomycetes have an open pan-genome, which reflects the diversity of these streptomycetes and guarantees the species a quick and economical response to diverse environments. Functional and comparative genomics analyses indicate that the marine-derived streptomycetes subgroup possesses some common characteristics of marine adaptation. Our findings have expanded our knowledge of how ocean isolates of streptomycete strains adapt to marine environments. The availability of streptomycete genomes from the South China Sea will be beneficial for further analysis on marine streptomycetes and will enrich the South China Sea's genetic data sources.

Positioning of aminopeptidase inhibitors in next generation cancer therapy

Aminopeptidases represent a class of (zinc) metalloenzymes that catalyze the cleavage of amino acids nearby the N-terminus of polypeptides, resulting in hydrolysis of peptide bonds. Aminopeptidases operate downstream of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and are implicated in the final step of intracellular protein degradation either by trimming proteasome-generated peptides for antigen presentation or full hydrolysis into free amino acids for recycling in renewed protein synthesis. This review focuses on the function and subcellular location of five key aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase N, leucine aminopeptidase, puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase, leukotriene A4 hydrolase and endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1/2) and their association with different diseases, in particular cancer and their current position as target for therapeutic intervention by aminopeptidase inhibitors. Historically, bestatin was the first prototypical aminopeptidase inhibitor that entered the clinic 35 years ago and is still used for the treatment of lung cancer. More recently, new generation aminopeptidase inhibitors became available, including the aminopeptidase inhibitor prodrug tosedostat, which is currently tested in phase II clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia. Beyond bestatin and tosedostat, medicinal chemistry has emerged with additional series of potential aminopeptidases inhibitors which are still in an early phase of (pre)clinical investigations. The expanded knowledge of the unique mechanism of action of aminopeptidases has revived interest in aminopeptidase inhibitors for drug combination regimens in anti-cancer treatment. In this context, this review will discuss relevant features and mechanisms of action of aminopeptidases and will also elaborate on factors contributing to aminopeptidase inhibitor efficacy and/or loss of efficacy due to drug resistance-related phenomena. Together, a growing body of data point to aminopeptidase inhibitors as attractive tools for combination chemotherapy, hence their implementation may be a step forward in a new era of personalized treatment of cancer patients.

A new antibacterial lipopeptide found by UPLC-MS from an actinomycete Streptomyces sp. HCCB10043

It is an attractive and interesting thing for us to mine the diversity of microbial metabolites by means of ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole and time of flight high-resolution mass spectrometry. Through this method, two trace compounds, a new lipopeptide, named arylomycin A6 (1), and a known lipopeptide (arylomycin A5, 2) were found and isolated from an actinomycete Streptomyces parvus HCCB10043. The structure of the new lipopeptide was elucidated by a combination of 1D, 2D NMR (correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence) techniques, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and MS/MS spectrometry and fatty acid analyses. Arylomycin A6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis HCCB20256 with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 μg/mL. Till now, arylomycins are the third series of active secondary metabolites we found in S. parvus HCCB10043. The results strongly support and encourage the studies for mining trace natural active products from microorganisms like Streptomyces.