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The synthesis and biological testing of bacilysin analogues

2013-11, Robertson, Keith, Murphy, Cormac D., Paradisi, Francesca

A series of compounds based on the structure of bacilysin were synthesised and tested for antibacterial activity. The key steps in the syntheses are the coupling of an iodide to a diketopiperazine (DKP) and mono-lactim ether scaffold, respectively. The diastereoselectivity of the coupling reactions was dependant on the scaffold, with selectivity for DKP of about 4:1 and mono-lactim ether exceeding 98:2. Subsequent elaboration of the compounds to give open chain dipeptides and DKPs that mimic the structure of bacilysin but substitute the epoxy ketone for a saturated or unsaturated ketone is described. Overall yield from coupling to final product was between 5 and 21 %, with the yield of the saturated products notably higher. The open chain dipeptides demonstrated moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity.

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Production of lipopeptides in Bacillus sp. CS93 isolated from Pozol

2010-03, Moran, Stephen, Robertson, Keith, Paradisi, Francesca, Rai, Dilip K., Murphy, Cormac D.

Bacillus sp. strain CS93, which was previously isolated from Pozol, was previously shown to produce iturin A, bacilysin and chlorotetaine. To investigate the biosynthetic mechanism of chlorotetaine production, the bac genes were amplified from genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. CS93 by PCR and sequenced. The genes bacABCDE were determined, but no gene that might code for a halogenating enzyme was detected either within the gene cluster or in the flanking sequences. Following further analysis of culture supernatants that were active against bacteria by liquid chromatography-MS, it was not possible to detect bacilysin/chlorotetaine. However, in methanolic fractions containing antibacterial activity, molecular ions characteristic of surfactins and fengycin were detectable by electrospray MS. Using primers complementary for conserved regions of nonribosomal peptide synthase, it was possible to amplify gene fragments that had a high degree of homology with known surfactin and fengycin biosynthetic genes. Thus, in addition to the known antimicrobial compounds, we have shown that this strain produces other bioactive lipopeptides, which might account for some of the medicinal properties of Pozol.

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Alternative mild route to the synthesis of 4-methylenecyclohex-2-enone, a key moiety of the anticancer compounds ottelione A and B

2012-02-27, Lestini, Elena, Robertson, Keith, Murphy, Cormac D., Paradisi, Francesca

Rare 4-methylenecyclohex-2-enone is prepared from a Diels-Alder methanesulfonate adduct and sodium iodide in acetone in up to 70% yield under mild conditions. This procedure is envisaged to be relevant to the synthesis of 4-methylenecyclo hex-2-enone analogues, structurally similar to the key functionality of cytotoxic otteliones and with potentially significant bioactivity.