1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy for identification of carbamide-containing biologically active compounds

Urea (carbamide) is the main end product of amino acids' metabolism in mammals. Extensive research in the field of urea chemistryhas contributed to the creation of many biologically active and other compounds based on the carbamide fragment NH–CO–NH. The substituting groups of urea directly affect its properties and characteristics which are reflected in the NMR spectral data and this circumstance can be the basis for the identification of urea derivatives. In this work, chemical shifts in the NMR spectra of urea and its acyclic structure, barbituric series, imidazolidinone series and bicyclic structure derivativeswere studied and identi-fied. A system analysis was carried out to determine the effect of the type of substituents on the positions of signals of the NH-CO-NH fragment in the NMR spectra. The possibility of 2D NMR spectroscopy using to simplify the identification procedurefor complex mixtureswas shown in the paper. The combined use of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy is convenient and informative to establishthe structure of biologically active compounds. These methods make it possible to determine the presence and type of impurities, as well as to establish thedestruction processes leading to the corresponding impurities.

Indole: A Privileged Heterocyclic Moiety in the Management of Cancer

: Heterocyclic are a class of compounds that are intricately entwined into life processes. Almost more than 90% of marketed drugs carry heterocycles. Synthetic chemistry, in turn, allocates a cornucopia of heterocycles. Among the heterocycles, indole, a bicyclic structure consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered pyrrole ring with numerous pharmacophores that generate a library of various lead molecules. Due to its profound pharmacological profile, indole got wider attention around the globe to explore it fully in the interest of mankind. The current review covers recent advancements on indole in the design of various anti-cancer agents acting by targeting various enzymes or receptors, including (HDACs), sirtuins, PIM kinases, DNA topoisomerases, and σ receptors.

Total Synthesis of Putative Structure of Asperipin-2a and Stereochemical Reassignment

The total synthesis of the putative structure of asperipin-2a is described. The synthesis features ether cross-links between the phenolic oxygen of Tyr6 and β position of Tyr3 and the phenolic oxygen of Tyr3 and the β position of Hpp1 in the unique 17- and 14-membered bicyclic structure of asperipin-2a, respectively. The synthesized putative structure does not match the natural product and a stereochemical reassignment is postulated.

Total Synthesis of Putative Structure of Asperipin-2a and Stereochemical Reassignment

The total synthesis of the putative structure of asperipin-2a is described. The synthesis features ether cross-links between the phenolic oxygen of Tyr6 and β position of Tyr3 and the phenolic oxygen of Tyr3 and the β position of Hpp1 in the unique 17- and 14-membered bicyclic structure of asperipin-2a, respectively. The synthesized putative structure does not match the natural product and a stereochemical reassignment is postulated.

Study of bicyclomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces cinnamoneus by genetic and biochemical approaches

The 2,5-Diketopiperazines (DKPs) constitute a large family of natural products with important biological activities. Bicyclomycin is a clinically-relevant DKP antibiotic that is the first and only member in a class known to target the bacterial transcription termination factor Rho. It derives from cyclo-(l-isoleucyl-l-leucyl) and has an unusual and highly oxidized bicyclic structure that is formed by an ether bridge between the hydroxylated terminal carbon atom of the isoleucine lateral chain and the alpha carbon of the leucine in the diketopiperazine ring. Here, we paired in vivo and in vitro studies to complete the characterization of the bicyclomycin biosynthetic gene cluster. The construction of in-frame deletion mutants in the biosynthetic gene cluster allowed for the accumulation and identification of biosynthetic intermediates. The identity of the intermediates, which were reproduced in vitro using purified enzymes, allowed us to characterize the pathway and corroborate previous reports. Finally, we show that the putative antibiotic transporter was dispensable for the producing strain.

The Isolation of Pyrroloformamide Congeners and Characterization of Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from Streptomyces sp. CB02980 Revealed a Unified Mechanism for Dithiolopyrrolone Biosynthesis

Dithiolopyrrolones are microbial natural products containing a disulfide or thiosulfonate bridge embedded in a unique bicyclic structure. In the current study, two new dithiolopyrrolones, pyrroloformamide C (<b>3</b>) and pyrroloformamide D (<b>4</b>), were isolated from <i>Streptomyces </i>sp. CB02980, together with the known pyrroloformamides <b>1 </b>and <b>2</b>. The biosynthetic gene cluster for pyrroloformamides was identified from <i>S</i>. sp. CB02980, which shared high sequence similarity with those of dithiolopyrrolones, including holomycin and thiolutin. Gene replacement of pyfE, which encodes a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, abolished the production of <b>1</b>－<b>4</b>. Overexpression of <i>pyfN</i>, a type II thioesterase gene, increased the production of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. The structure elucidation and biosynthetic characterization of pyrroloformamides <b>1</b> - <b>4</b> may inspire future efforts to discover new dithiolopyrrolones, which are promising drug leads for the treatment of infectious diseases or cancer.

The Isolation of Pyrroloformamide Congeners and Characterization of Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from Streptomyces sp. CB02980 Revealed a Unified Mechanism for Dithiolopyrrolone Biosynthesis

Dithiolopyrrolones are microbial natural products containing a disulfide or thiosulfonate bridge embedded in a unique bicyclic structure. In the current study, two new dithiolopyrrolones, pyrroloformamide C (<b>3</b>) and pyrroloformamide D (<b>4</b>), were isolated from <i>Streptomyces </i>sp. CB02980, together with the known pyrroloformamides <b>1 </b>and <b>2</b>. The biosynthetic gene cluster for pyrroloformamides was identified from <i>S</i>. sp. CB02980, which shared high sequence similarity with those of dithiolopyrrolones, including holomycin and thiolutin. Gene replacement of pyfE, which encodes a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, abolished the production of <b>1</b>－<b>4</b>. Overexpression of <i>pyfN</i>, a type II thioesterase gene, increased the production of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. The structure elucidation and biosynthetic characterization of pyrroloformamides <b>1</b> - <b>4</b> may inspire future efforts to discover new dithiolopyrrolones, which are promising drug leads for the treatment of infectious diseases or cancer.

KLK4 inhibition by cyclic and acyclic peptides: structural and dynamical insights into standard-mechanism protease inhibitors

Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor (SFTI-1) is a 14-amino acid serine protease inhibitor. The dual anti-parallel β-sheet arrangement of SFTI-1 is stabilized by a N-terminal-C-terminal backbone cyclization and a further disulfide bridge to form a final bicyclic structure. This constrained structure is further rigidified by an extensive network of internal hydrogen bonds. Thus, the structure of SFTI-1 in solution resembles the protease-bound structure, reducing the entropic penalty upon protease binding. When cleaved at the scissile bond, it is thought that the rigidifying features of SFTI-1 maintain its structure, allowing the scissile bond to be reformed. The lack of structural plasticity for SFTI-1 is proposed to favour initial protease binding and continued occupancy in the protease active site, resulting in an equilibrium between cleaved and uncleaved inhibitor in the presence of protease. We have determined, at 1.15 Å resolution, the x-ray crystal structures of complexes between human kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) and SFTI-FCQR(Asn14), and between KLK4 and an acyclic form of the same inhibitor, SFTI-FCQR(Asn14)[1,14], with the latter displaying a cleaved scissile bond. Structural analysis and MD simulations together reveal the roles of altered contact sequence, intramolecular hydrogen bonding network and backbone cyclization, in altering the state of SFTI’s scissile bond ligation at the protease active site. Taken together, the data presented reveal insights into the role of dynamics in the standard-mechanism inhibition, and suggest that modifications on the noncontact strand may be a useful, underexplored approach for generating further potent or selective SFTI-based inhibitors against members of the serine protease family.