Gualamycin, a novel acaricide produced by Streptomyces sp. NK11687. II. Structural elucidation

The chemistry and biology of natural ribomimetics and related compounds

Natural ribomimetics represent an important group of specialized metabolites with significant biological activities. Many of the activities, e.g., inhibition of seryl-tRNA synthetases, glycosidases, or ribosomes, are manifestations of their structural resemblance to ribose or related sugars, which play roles in the structural, physiological, and/or reproductive functions of living organisms. Recent studies on the biosynthesis and biological activities of some natural ribomimetics have expanded our understanding on how they are made in nature and why they have great potential as pharmaceutically relevant products. This review article highlights the discovery, biological activities, biosynthesis, and development of this intriguing class of natural products.

Isolation and biosynthesis of preussin B, a pyrrolidine alkaloid from Simplicillium lanosoniveum

A new pyrrolidine alkaloid, preussin B (1), was isolated from the culture extract of the fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum TAMA 173 along with the known congener preussin (2). The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were determined by spectroscopic analysis and spectral comparison with 2. Feeding experiments with 13C-labeled precursors revealed that the pyrrolidine ring of 1 was assembled from acetate and l-phenylalanine by a PKS-NRPS hybrid biosynthetic pathway.

Astonishing diversity of natural surfactants: 6. Biologically active marine and terrestrial alkaloid glycosides

This review article presents 209 alkaloid glycosides isolated and identified from plants, microorganisms, and marine invertebrates that demonstrate different biological activities. They are of great interest, especially for the medicinal and/or pharmaceutical industries. These biologically active glycosides have good potential for future chemical preparation of compounds useful as antioxidants, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antibacterial agents. These glycosidic compounds have been subdivided into several groups, including: acridone; aporphine; benzoxazinoid; ergot; indole; enediyne alkaloidal antibiotics; glycosidic lupine alkaloids; piperidine, pyridine, pyrrolidine, and pyrrolizidine alkaloid glycosides; glycosidic quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids; steroidal glycoalkaloids; and miscellaneous alkaloid glycosides.

Double-headed acyclo C-nucleoside analogues. Functionalized 1,2-bis-(1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)ethane-1,2-diol

Reaction of L-tartaric acid with thiocarbohydcrazide afforded (1R, 2S)-1,2-bis(4-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-ethane-1,2-diol (3). The functional groups in 3 allowed the construction of fused heterocycles on the 1,2,4-triazole rings, mainly of the 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazine type as in 4, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole type as in 14.