Preferential Suppression of Delayed-type Hypersensitivity by L-156,602, a C5a Receptor Antagonist

In the course of our screening for in vivo immunomodulating substances in which sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and heat-killed Brucella abortus cells (thymus dependent and independent antigens, respectively) for antibody production assays, and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay were adopted as antigens, we detected a DTH-specific suppressive activity. The producing organism was isolated from a soil sample collected in Ushiku City, Ibaraki, Japan and identified with Streptomyces sp. A1502 (FERM P-12448). The active component was identified with L-156,602, a C5a receptor antagonist. L-156,602 suppressed both TNBS-induced and TNP-SRBC-induced DTH while it enhanced antibody production against SRBC, Brucella abortus, and TNP-SRBC. L-156,602 significantly suppressed DTH induced by direct injection of type 1 helper T cells and its relevant antigen into hind-footpads, indicating that the efferent phase of DTH was affected by L-156,602. The results demonstrated that L-156,602 preferentially suppressed the DTH response.

Haematocin, a new antifungal diketopiperazine produced by Nectria haematococca Berk. et Br. (880701a-1) causing nectria blight disease on ornamental plants

A new antifungal diketopiperazine named haematocin was isolated from the culture broth of Nectria haematococca Berk. et Br. (880701a-1) causing blight disease on ornamental plants, Phalaenopsis spp. and Doritanopsis spp. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods. Haematocin inhibited the germ-tube elongation and spore-germination of Pyricularia oryzae at the ED50 values of 30 microg/ml and 160 microg/ml, respectively.

New types of liposidomycins produced by Streptomyces that inhibit bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis. Structure elucidation of fatty acid components by tandem mass spectrometry

The structures of the fatty acid components of various new liposidomycins were determined using tandem mass spectrometry; the negative FAB/MS/MS/MS technique for liposidomycins with a 3-methylglutaric acid moiety and the negative FAB/MS/MS technique for liposidomycins without a 3-methylglutaric acid moiey. This structural information was obtained by analysis of peaks due to charge-remote fragmentations for 3-hydroxycarboxylate anions or carboxylate anions which were generated from liposidomycin molecules in a mass spectrometer. The MS/MS/MS technique that can exclude the matrix-derived and/or interfering ions showed higher sensitivity than the MS/MS technique.

S19159, a modulator of neurite outgrowth produced by the ascomycete Preussia aemulans. I. Producing strain, fermentation, isolation and biological activity

A modulator of neurite outgrowth, designated S19159, was isolated from the fermentation broth of fungal strain 19159. This fungus was identified as the loculoascomycete, Preussia aemulans (Rehm) von Arx. In the presence of S19159, the number of neurites extending from the cell bodies of cerebral cortical neurons was markedly reduced. The effect of S19159 was observed specifically in neurons from the central nervous system. The compound exhibited similar activities on cultured cortical, hippocampal and cerebeller neurons but was without detectable effect on dorsal root ganglion neurons and PC12 cells.

Signal transduction inhibitors, hibarimicins, A, B, C, D and G produced by Microbispora. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical and biological properties

Strain TP-AO121 which produces a complex of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors designated hibarimicins A, B, C, D and G was considered to be a new subspecies of Microbispora rosea, and the name, Microbispora rosea subsp. hibaria, was proposed. Hibarimicins A, B, C and D specifically inhibited the src tyrosine kinase activity without affecting protein kinase A or protein kinase C. They also showed in vitro anti-Gram-positive bacterial and antitumor activities. The molecular formulae of hibarimicins A, B, C, D and G were assigned to be C85H112O37, C85H112O37, C83H110O36, C85H112O38, and C85H112O39 respectively.

Novel amino acid metabolite produced by Streptomyces sp.: I. Taxonomy, isolation, and structural elucidation

A strain of streptomycete isolated from a soil sample was found to produce a novel amino acid metabolite. The compound was purified from the culture fluid by chromatography, using cation exchange resin, a synthetic adsorbent, and finally by preparative HPLC with a reverse-phase column. The structure of the compound was established as N(delta)-(5-methyl-4-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)-L-ornithine on the basis of an analysis of the spectral data and chemical degradation. This was confirmed by comparing the NMR spectrum of the metabolite with that of the compound synthesized by treating methylglyoxal and N(alpha)-acetyl-L-arginine. The substance did not show any antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi and yeasts by the agar plate method, but exhibited a weak preventive effect on cucumber mildew disease in a pot test.

Propeptin, a new inhibitor of prolyl endopeptidase produced by Microbispora. I. Fermentation, isolation and biological properties

Propeptin, an inhibitor of the prolyl endopeptidase isolated from the mycelium of Microbispora sp. SNA-115, is an atypical cyclic peptide antibiotic. It was purified by column chromatographies on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and high performance liquid chromatography using an ODS column. Propeptin has the molecular formula of C113H142N26O27 and consists of nineteen amino acids. Propeptin inhibited prolyl endopeptidase of the genus Flavobacterium competitively when Z-Gly-Pro-pNA was used as a substrate. The inhibitor constant (Ki) was 0.70 microM.

Cryobacterium psychrophilum gen. nov., sp. nov., nom. rev., comb. nov., an obligately psychrophilic actinomycete to accommodate "Curtobacterium psychrophilum" Inoue and Komagata 1976

"Curtobacterium psychrophilum," proposed by Inoue and Komagata in 1976, is a psychrophilic gram-positive irregular rod isolated from Antarctic soil. This organism grew optimally at 9 to 12 degrees C and did not grow at higher than 18 degrees C. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of this organism were the presence of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in the cell wall and menaquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone. The cellular fatty acid profile, which contained a significant amount of an anteiso-branched monounsaturated acid, 12-methyl tetradecenoic acid, was a distinctive characteristic of this organism and was reasonable for adaptation to low temperature. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequences revealed that this organism was positioned at a separate branch in the family Microbacteriaceae, actinomycetes with group B peptidoglycan. We propose the name Cryobacterium psychrophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. for this organism. The type strain is JCM 1463 (= IAM 12024 = ATCC 43563 = IFO 15735 = NCIMB 2068).

SNA-8073-B, a new isotetracenone antibiotic inhibits prolyl endopeptidase. I. Fermentation, isolation and biological properties

SNA-8073-B, an inhibitor of prolyl endopeptidase isolated from the broth filtrate of Streptomyces sp. SNA-8073, is a new isotetracenone antibiotic. It was purified by ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography on ODS column. SNA-8073-B has the molecular formula of C20H16O5 and is a stereoisomer of SNA-8073-A (fujianmycin B, rubiginone A2). SNA-8073-B inhibited prolyl endopeptidase of Flavobacterium non-competitively (IC50 = 8.9 microM) when Z-Gly-Pro-pNA was used as a substrate, but SNA-8073-A did not show any inhibition even at 60 microM.

Purification and characterization of a 15 kDa protein (p15) produced by Helicosporium that exhibits distinct effects on neurite outgrowth from cortical neurons and PC12 cells

We have found that a 15 kDa protein (p15) produced by a fungus of Helicosporium genus induced characteristic morphological changes on neurites extending from rat cerebral cortex neurons in culture. In the presence of p15, neurite elongation from cortical neurons was markedly inhibited, and they extended short, slender, and less branched neurites. Laminin-induced promotion of neurite outgrowth was also dramatically suppressed. In contrast, p15 promoted nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells, although treatment of cells with p15 alone had little effect. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of p15 revealed that it had limited homology to plant lectins. These results suggest that the mechanism of neurite outgrowth was considerably different between cortical neurons and PC12 cells and that p15 modulated neurite outgrowth in cell type-specific manners.

Agromyces mediolanus sp. nov., nom. rev., comb. nov., a species for "Corynebacterium mediolanum" Mamoli 1939 and for some aniline-assimilating bacteria which contain 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan

In the course of identifying aniline-assimilating bacteria, researchers found some gram-positive strains that contain 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in their cell wall peptidoglycans and menaquinone 12 as the predominant menaquinone. "Corynebacterium mediolanum" and "Flavobacterium dehydrogenans" also are known to contain 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in their cell walls, as well as menaquinone 12, but the taxonomic position of these organisms has not been established previously. We found that the aniline-assimilating strains, together with "C. mediolanum" and "F. dehydrogenans," belong to a single species of the genus Agromyces, as determined by phenotypic characteristics, DNA-DNA relatedness data, and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence similarity data. The name Agromyces mediolanus sp. nov., nom. rev., comb. nov., is proposed for these organisms. The type strain of A. mediolanus is strain JCM 3346 (= ATCC 14004 = NCIMB 7206).

Cytotoxic benzyl dihydroflavonols from Cudrania tricuspidata

Three new dihydroflavonols, gericudranins A-C were isolated from the stem bark of Cudrania tricuspidata. They were identified as 6,8-di-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin, 8-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin and 6-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin, respectively, by means of spectral studies. These compounds were cytotoxic to human tumor cell lines, such as CRL 1579 (skin), LOX-IMVI (skin), MOLT-4F (leukemia), KM12 (colon) and UO-31 (renal) in culture, with ED50 values of 2.7-31.3 micrograms ml-1.

Sparoxomycins A1 and A2, new inducers of the flat reversion of NRK cells transformed by temperature sensitive Rous sarcoma virus. II. Isolation, physico-chemical properties and structure elucidation

Sparoxomycins A1 and A2, isolated from the fermentation broth and mycelium of Streptomyces sparsogenes SN2325, are new inducers of the flat reversion of NRK cells transformed by temperature sensitive Rous sarcoma virus. Sparoxomycins A1 and A2 were isolated by active carbon chromatography, centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), ODS column chromatography and preparative HPLC. The structure of sparoxomycins were determined by spectroscopic evidences. Stereochemical assignments of these inducers were executed from the analyses of CD spectra.

Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone as inhibitors of killing function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone were isolated from an extract of mokko (Saussurea lappa Clarke) as inhibitors of killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Mokko lactone was also isolated as an inactive compound from the extract. The structure-activity relationship indicated that alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone is required for the inhibitory effect. Costunolide markedly inhibited the granule exocytosis and the production of inositol phosphates in response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) stimulation at a concentration that did not affect the binding of anti-CD3 mAb. Tyrosine phosphorylation induced by crosslinking of CD3 molecules was significantly inhibited by costunolide in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that costunolide inhibits the killing activity of CTL through preventing the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in response to the crosslinking of T-cell receptors.

Antibacterial substance produced by Streptococcus faecium under anaerobic culture

A facultative anaerobe isolated from Korean domestic soil produced an antibacterial substance under strict anaerobic conditions. Based on the morphological and biochemical tests, and cellular fatty acid profiles, the anaerobe was identified as Streptococcus faecium. An antimicrobial compound produced from the S. faecium was identified as 3,7,12-trihydroxy-24-cholanic acid methylester on the basis of its physico-chemical analysis. This substance had potent antibacterial activities against a test organism harboring multiple antibiotic resistance markers, and a variety of pathogenic bacteria. The isolated S. faecium produced lactic acid as well as the antibiotic compound under the anaerobic conditions.

1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate as an inhibitor of phagocytosis of macrophages

We screened extracts of edible plants for inhibitors of phagocytosis by peritoneal exudate macrophages. 1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Languas galanga, and this compound strongly inhibited phagocytosis at an IC50 value of 1.2 microM with negligible effects on pinocytosis and cell viability. Target(s) of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate was suggested to be downstream of the signal transduction pathway that is mediated by protein kinase C.

Anti-inflammatory effects and specificity of L-156,602: comparison of effects on concanavalin A and zymosan-induced footpad edema, and contact sensitivity response

We investigated the in vivo selective anti-inflammatory effect of L-156,602, which was first identified as a preferential delayed-type hypersensitivity-suppressant in our screening program and first reported to be a C5a antagonist. The agent most profoundly suppressed footpad edema 4 h after elicitation by concanavalin A (con A) and also caused a significantly impaired response after a further 20 h. Footpad edema induced by either serotonin, carrageenan or zymosan was not much influenced by the agent. Although the dominant cell population that migrated in response to con A and zymosan 4 h after elicitation was neutrophils, L-156,602 specifically prevented the con-A-induced migration of neutrophils, suggesting a distinct mechanism of neutrophil recruitment between con A and zymosan-induced inflammation. The agent also reduced the contact-sensitivity response, especially in host mice sensitized with a moderate dose of picryl chloride and almost completely suppressed the infiltration of mononuclear leukocytes and neutrophils into the site of inflammation. These selective effects of L-156,602 on inflammatory reactions appeared to be not merely via C5a antagonism.

Screening for specific inhibitors of phagocytosis of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages

Phagocytosis is one of the basic and characteristic properties of macrophages. We screened metabolites of Actinomyces for low molecular weight substances that selectively inhibited phagocytosis of dried yeast but not pinocytosis of neutral red by thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. Inhibitors of actin filament organization, protein kinases, respiration, and lipid synthesis selectively inhibited phagocytosis, and blockers of proton gradients selectively inhibited pinocytosis. This suggests that these functions are differently regulated. We applied this system to screening of metabolites of Actinomyces, and identified mycotrienin, piericidin, and genistein as selective inhibitors of phagocytosis.

Effects of microbial products on glucose consumption and morphology of macrophages

We studied the effects of microbial products on glucose consumption and morphology of macrophages which were elicited with thioglycollate medium. Macromolecules such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor promoters, and respiratory inhibitors increased macrophage glucose consumption without inducing evident morphological changes. The assay system was used to screen for active substances in culture broth extracts from actinomycetes. Among them, aureothin increased glucose consumption of macrophages and inhibited respiration of a rat mitochondrial fraction. Concanamycin A induced morphological changes of macrophages into needle-like shapes but not of cloned cells including the macrophage-like cells J774.1. This compound changed fibrosarcoma L929 cells into round shapes without affecting the shape of a nontransformed fibroblast, BALB/3T3 cells. Antimycin and concanamycin A increased tumor-killing activity of macrophages when added during the effector phase. These results suggest that this assay system is simple and sufficiently reproducible and thus usable for screening for modulators of macrophage function among natural products.

Melastin, a novel product of Streptomyces that selectively inhibits leukemia cell growth

In the course of our screening for new immunomodulators, a novel compound, melastin, was purified from the culture broth of Streptomyces. Melastin was purified through absorption to Diaion HP-20, ethanol precipitation, and anion exchange column as a brown powder. The molecular weight was estimated as 5000 +/- 3000 by gel filtration HPLC. Melastin suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced blastogenesis of B cells more profoundly than concanavalin A (con A)- or phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced blastogenesis of T cells. Moreover, it selectively inhibited the growth of several leukemia cells as compared with interleukin-dependent nontransformed leukocytes. No selectivity was observed between nontransformed fibroblasts and their oncogene-transformed variants. Melastin did not selectively inhibit macromolecule synthesis of leukemia cells.

Isolation and characterization of phosmidosine. A new antifungal nucleotide antibiotic

A new nucleotide antibiotic, phosmidosine was isolated from a culture filtrate of a newly isolated streptomycete identified as Streptomyces sp. RK-16. HRFAB-MS and elemental analysis established the molecular formula of C16H24N7O8P. 1H, 13C and 31P NMR indicated the presence of a methyl phosphate group and UV spectra were similar to those of 8-hydroxyadenosine. The antibiotic inhibited spore formation of Botrytis cinerea at the concentration of 0.25 micrograms/ml.

New pyrrolobenzodiazepine antibiotics, RK-1441A and B. II. Isolation and structure

Antibacteriophage antibiotics, RK-1441A and B, related to neothramycin were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. and their structures were deduced from spectroscopic analyses. The structure of RK-1441A was 8,11-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-5-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c:1,4]benzodiazepine. RK-1441B is a tautomeric mixture at C-3 of the structure, 3,8,11-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-5-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c:1,4]benzodiazepine.

A new inhibitor of protein kinase C, RK-286C (4'-demethylamino-4'-hydroxystaurosporine). II. Isolation, physico-chemical properties and structure

RK-286C, a new inhibitor of protein kinase C, has been found by the bleb-forming assay using K562 cells. It was produced by Streptomyces sp. RK-286 and purified by solvent extraction, silica gel chromatography and preparative HPLC. Spectrometric analysis revealed that the structure is 4'-demethylamino-4'-hydroxystaurosporine.

Epiderstatin, a new inhibitor of the mitogenic activity induced by epidermal growth factor. II. Structure elucidation

The structure of a novel antibiotic, epiderstatin, was determined as 4-[3-((Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-oxopiperidin-6-ylidene)-2-oxopropyl]-2, 6-piperidinedione by spectroscopic analyses of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), 13C-1H COSY, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation spectroscopy, UV and IR spectra. The antibiotic belongs to the glutarimide antibiotics, however, the characteristic feature of epiderstatin is that it has a piperidone ring instead of a cyclohexanone ring.

A new antifungal antibiotic, cystargin: fermentation, isolation, and characterization

A new sulfur-containing peptide antifungal antibiotic, cystargin, was isolated from the fermentation broth of a new species of genus Kitasatosporia, designated as Kitasatosporia cystarginea. On acid hydrolysis, cystargin (C60H77N19O17S6) gave equimolar glycine, proline, aspartic acid and arginine. By performic acid oxidation, cysteic acid was detected after hydrolysis. It showed a growth inhibitory activity against various phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of beta-1,3-glucan synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Studies on binding of toromycin, an antitumor antibiotic, to DNA

Toromycin, an antitumor, bactericidal and antiviral compound, was found to bind to DNA in such a way as to interfere with the dissociation of double helix at an elevated temperature. The antibiotic did not introduce strand scission into DNA. Single-strand-specific nuclease S1-susceptibility of negatively supercoiled DNA was not influenced by its binding. The antibiotic was shown to bind to both of the alternating purine-pyrimidine copolymers, poly(dG-dC):poly(dG-dC) and poly(dA-dT):poly(dA-dT). The unique C-glycoside molecule of toromycin interacted with single-stranded DNA, but was found to have no affinity for RNA.

Presence of fucosamine in teichuronic acid of the alkalophilic Bacillus strain C-125

Cell walls of the alkalophilic Bacillus strain C-125 are composed of gamma-peptidoglycan, teichuronic acid and a polymer of glucuronate and glutamate. An amino sugar that was a main component of the teichuronic acid did not correspond to any of the commercially available hexosamines. The amino sugar was purified into crystalline form from the hydrolysate of the teichuronic acid by ion-exchange chromatography and then partition chromatography on a cellulose column. The amino sugar was identified as D-fucosamine (2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactose) by 400 MHz n.m.r. spectrometric analysis, measurement of optical rotation and elemental analysis.

Specific binding of chartreusin, an antitumor antibiotic, to DNA

Chartreusin, an antitumor and antibacterial antibiotic, was found to inhibit negatively superhelical DNA-relaxation catalyzed by prokaryotic topoisomerase I and conversion of the superhelical DNA into unit length linear form catalyzed by single-strand-specific S1 nuclease. The inhibitory effect of the agent was due to the binding to DNA causing the alteration of tertiary structure. To characterize the binding specificity, we investigated the protection of DNA against cleavages by various restriction endonucleases. It was evidenced that the binding of the agent is not at random and correlates to the sequence 5'CGC 3' 3'GCG 5' on DNA stretch.