Studies on free radical scavenging substances from microorganisms. I. Carazostatin, a new free radical scavenger produced by Streptomyces chromofuscus DC 118

Streptomyces Paradigm in Anticancer Therapy: A State-of-the Art Review

Abstract:

Cancer is one of the biggest threats to human health with a global incidence of 23.6 million, mortality of 10 million, and an estimated 250 million lost in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) each year. Moreover, the incidence, mortality, and DALYs have increased over the past decade by 26.3%, 20.9%, and 16.0%, respectively. Despite significant evolutions in medical therapy and advances in the DNA microarray, proteomics technology, and targeted therapies, anticancer drug resistance continues to be a growing concern and invites regular discovery of potent agents. One such agent is the microbe-producing bioactive compounds like Streptomyces, which are proving increasingly resourceful in anticancer therapy of the future. Streptomyces, especially the species living in extreme conditions, produce bioactive compounds with cytolytic and anti-oxidative activity which can be utilized for producing anticancer and chemo-preventive agents. The efficacy of the derived compounds has been proven on cell lines and some of these have already established clinical results. These compounds can potentially be utilized in the treatment of a variety of cancers including but not limited to colon, lung, breast, GI tract, cervix, and skin cancer. The Streptomyces, thus possess the armory to fuel the anticancer agents of the future and help address the problem of rising resistance to currently available anti-cancer drugs. We conducted a state-of-art review using electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar with an objective to appraise the currently available literature on Streptomyces as a source of anti-cancer agents and to compile the clinically significant literature to update the clinicians.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Streptomyces species from soils of three different cold sites in the Fez-Meknes region Morocco

The increasing demand for new bioactive compounds to combat the evolution of multi-drug resistance (MDR) requires research on microorganisms in different environments in order to identify new potent molecules. In this study, initial screening regarding the antimicrobial activity of 44 Actinomycetes isolates isolated from three soil samples from three different extremely cold sites in Morocco was carried out. Primary and secondary screening were performed against Candida albicans ATCC 60,193, Escherichia coli ATCC 25,922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14,579, other clinical MDR bacteria, and thirteen phytopathogenic fungi. Based on the results obtained, 11 active isolates were selected for further study. The 11microbial isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characters and their molecular identification was performed using 16S rRNA sequence homology. The UV-visible analysis of dichloromethane extracts of the five Streptomyces sp. Strains that showed high antimicrobial and antioxidant (ABTS 35.8% and DPPH 25.6%) activities revealed the absence of polyene molecules. GC-MS analysis of the dichloromethane extract of E23-4 as the most active strain revealed the presence of 21 volatile compounds including Pyrrolopyrazine (98%) and Benzeneacetic acid (90%). In conclusion, we studied the isolation of new Streptomyces strains to produce new compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in a cold and microbiologically unexplored region of Morocco. Furthermore, this study has demonstrated a significant (P < 0.0001) positive correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity, paving the way for the further characterization of these Streptomyces sp. isolates for their optimal use for anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial purposes.

Recent Advances in the Biosynthesis of Carbazoles Produced by Actinomycetes

Structurally diverse carbazole alkaloids are valuable due to their pharmaceutical properties and have been isolated from nature. Experimental knowledge on carbazole biosynthesis is limited. The latest development of in silico analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters for bacterial carbazoles has allowed studies on the biosynthesis of a carbazole skeleton, which was established by sequential enzyme-coupling reactions associated with an unprecedented carbazole synthase, a thiamine-dependent enzyme, and a ketosynthase-like enzyme. This review describes the carbazole biosynthetic mechanism, which includes a key step in enzymatic formation of a tricyclic carbazole skeleton, followed by modifications such as prenylation and hydroxylation in the skeleton.

One-Pot Assembly of 3-Hydroxycarbazoles via Uninterrupted Propargylation/Hydroxylative Benzannulation Reactions

A novel strategy for the synthesis of 3-hydroxycarbazoles involving the consecutive propargylation/palladium-catalyzed hydroxylative benzannulation of indole-2-carbonyls with propargylic alcohols has been exploited. This one-pot procedure leads to a wide range of substituted 3-hydroxycarbazoles in high yield with a broad substrate scope. The method was further extended to access furano-carbazole derivatives from dialkynols via tandem annulations.

Streptomyces monashensis sp. nov., a novel mangrove soil actinobacterium from East Malaysia with antioxidative potential

A new Streptomyces species discovered from Sarawak mangrove soil is described, with the proposed name - Streptomyces monashensis sp. nov. (strain MUSC 1JT). Taxonomy status of MUSC 1JT was determined via polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic properties of strain MUSC 1JT were in accordance with those known for genus Streptomyces. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the strains closely related to MUSC 1JT were Streptomyces corchorusii DSM 40340T (98.7%), Streptomyces olivaceoviridis NBRC 13066T (98.7%), Streptomyces canarius NBRC 13431T (98.6%) and Streptomyces coacervatus AS-0823T (98.4%). Outcomes of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain MUSC 1JT and its closely related type strains covered from 19.7 ± 2.8% to 49.1 ± 4.3%. Strain MUSC 1JT has genome size of 10,254,857 bp with DNA G + C content of 71 mol%. MUSC 1JT extract exhibited strong antioxidative activity up to 83.80 ± 4.80% in the SOD assay, with significant cytotoxic effect against colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and SW480. Streptomyces monashensis MUSC 1JT (=DSM 103626T = MCCC 1K03221T) could potentially be a producer of novel bioactive metabolites; hence discovery of this new species may be highly significant to the biopharmaceutical industry as it could lead to development of new and useful chemo-preventive drugs.

Streptomyces colonosanans sp. nov., A Novel Actinobacterium Isolated from Malaysia Mangrove Soil Exhibiting Antioxidative Activity and Cytotoxic Potential against Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Streptomyces colonosanans MUSC 93J^T, a novel strain isolated from mangrove forest soil located at Sarawak, Malaysia. The bacterium was noted to be Gram-positive and to form light yellow aerial and vivid yellow substrate mycelium on ISP 2 agar. The polyphasic approach was used to determine the taxonomy of strain MUSC 93J^T and the strain showed a range of phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic properties consistent with those of the members of the genus Streptomyces. Phylogenetic and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that closely related strains include Streptomyces malachitofuscus NBRC 13059^T (99.2% sequence similarity), Streptomyces misionensis NBRC 13063^T (99.1%), and Streptomyces phaeoluteichromatogenes NRRL 5799^T (99.1%). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between MUSC 93J^T and closely related type strains ranged from 14.4 ± 0.1 to 46.2 ± 0.4%. The comparison of BOX-PCR fingerprints indicated MUSC 93J^T exhibits a unique DNA profile. The genome of MUSC 93J^T consists of 7,015,076 bp. The DNA G + C content was determined to be 69.90 mol%. The extract of strain MUSC 93J^T was demonstrated to exhibit potent antioxidant activity via ABTS, metal chelating, and SOD assays. This extract also exhibited anticancer activity against human colon cancer cell lines without significant cytotoxic effect against human normal colon cells. Furthermore, the chemical analysis of the extract further emphasizes the strain is producing chemo-preventive related metabolites. Based on this polyphasic study of MUSC 93J^T, it is concluded that this strain represents a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces colonosanans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MUSC 93J^T (= DSM 102042^T = MCCC 1K02298^T).

Vanadium-catalyzed regioselective oxidative coupling of 2-hydroxycarbazoles

The first regioselective oxidative coupling of 2-hydroxycarbazoles is described. With a vanadium catalyst and oxygen as the terminal oxidant, dimers with an ortho-ortho' coupling pattern were obtained with high selectivity. Further oxidation led to ortho'-ortho' coupling to generate a tetramer, which provided insight that the atropisomerization barriers of the unsymmetrical biaryl bonds are much lower than expected.

Bioactive dimeric carbazole alkaloids from Murraya koenigii

Phytochemical studies on the CHCl3 extract of the fruit pulp of Murraya koenigii afforded three new dimeric carbazole alkaloids, bisgerayafolines A-C (1-3). Bisgerayafolines A-C (1-3) are structurally unique dimeric carbazole alkaloids comprising geranyl moieties incorporated in their structures. Compounds 1-3 exhibited various levels of antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase, DNA binding, and cytotoxic activities and protein interactions.

Synthetic Utility of 2-Furylmethylene-2,3,4,9-Tetrahydrocarbazol-1-Ones: Syntheses of Pyrazolo, Isoxazolo, Pyrido and Pyrimido Annelated Carbazoles

2-Furylmethylene-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrocarbazol-1-ones were obtained from the mixed aldol condensation of 2,3,4,9-tetrahydrocarbazole-1-ones and furan-2-carbaldehyde (furfural). The corresponding enones were utilised as the synthons to prepare various heteroannulated pyrazolo[3,4- a]-, isoxazolo[3,4- a]-, pyrido[2,3- a]-, and pyrimido[4,5- a] carbazoles under different conditions using various reagents. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 2-furylmeth-ylene-6-methyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrocarbazol-1-one are discussed.

Lipocarbazoles, secondary metabolites from Tsukamurella pseudospumae Acta 1857 with antioxidative activity

A family of new secondary metabolites with a carbazole moiety and an alkyl side chain was isolated from Tsukamurella pseudospumae strain Acta 1857. They were named lipocarbazoles in accordance with their chemical structures, which were determined by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Lipocarbazoles are free radical scavengers showing antioxidative activity.

First total synthesis of antiostatin A1, a potent carbazole-based naturally occurring antioxidant

The first total synthesis of the potent antioxidant antiostatin A1 is reported, where its key features rely on a chemo- and regioselective rhodium-catalysed crossed alkyne cyclotrimerisation reaction applying functionalised ynamides and a palladium-catalysed arylamidation reaction.

Recent advances in the chemistry and biology of naturally occurring antibiotics

Ever since the world-shaping discovery of penicillin, nature's molecular diversity has been extensively screened for new medications and lead compounds in drug discovery. The search for agents intended to combat infectious diseases has been of particular interest and has enjoyed a high degree of success. Indeed, the history of antibiotics is marked with impressive discoveries and drug-development stories, the overwhelming majority of which have their origin in natural products. Chemistry, and in particular chemical synthesis, has played a major role in bringing naturally occurring antibiotics and their derivatives to the clinic, and no doubt these disciplines will continue to be key enabling technologies. In this review article, we highlight a number of recent discoveries and advances in the chemistry, biology, and medicine of naturally occurring antibiotics, with particular emphasis on total synthesis, analogue design, and biological evaluation of molecules with novel mechanisms of action.

Antibacterial natural products in medicinal chemistry--exodus or revival?

To create a drug, nature's blueprints often have to be improved through semisynthesis or total synthesis (chemical postevolution). Selected contributions from industrial and academic groups highlight the arduous but rewarding path from natural products to drugs. Principle modification types for natural products are discussed herein, such as decoration, substitution, and degradation. The biological, chemical, and socioeconomic environments of antibacterial research are dealt with in context. Natural products, many from soil organisms, have provided the majority of lead structures for marketed anti-infectives. Surprisingly, numerous "old" classes of antibacterial natural products have never been intensively explored by medicinal chemists. Nevertheless, research on antibacterial natural products is flagging. Apparently, the "old fashioned" natural products no longer fit into modern drug discovery. The handling of natural products is cumbersome, requiring nonstandardized workflows and extended timelines. Revisiting natural products with modern chemistry and target-finding tools from biology (reversed genomics) is one option for their revival.

Total synthesis of lysobactin

Antibiotic resistance has become a significant public health concern. Antibiotics that belong to new structural classes and manifest their biological activity via novel mechanisms are urgently needed. Lysobactin, a depsipeptide antibiotic has displayed very strong antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.39 to 0.78 microg/mL. The MIC values against VRE were more than 50-fold lower than those reported for vancomycin itself. Lysobactin was found to inhibit nascent peptidoglycan formation; however, this activity was not antagonized in the presence of N-acyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala, the binding domain on the cell wall precursors that is utilized by vancomycin. Thus, lysobactin represents a promising agent for the treatment bacterial infections due to resistant pathogens. We describe a convergent synthesis of lysobactin that relies upon a highly efficient macrocyclization reaction to assemble the 28-membered cyclic depsipeptide. This synthesis provides the foundation for further study of the mode of action utilized by lysobactin and its analogues.

The Chemistry of Pericyclic Reactions and Their Application to Syntheses of Heterocyclic Compounds

Diels-Alder reactions of benzylidenecyanomethyl-1,3-benzothiazoles 17 and -1,3-benzoxazoles 18 as 1-aza-1,3-butadienes are described. The dienes 17 and 18 featuring stabilized imine moieties in the form of heteroaromatic rings react with both electron-deficient and electron-rich dienophiles to give corresponding cycloadducts regioselectively. The cycloadditions of the intramolecular systems 34c,d and 35c,d proceeded smoothly via the exo-transition state, stereoselectively affording polycyclic compounds 36c,d and 37c,d in good to excellent yields. The diene systems of 17 and 18 were extended to dienes 19a-c with ester groups at diene-4-positions. Dienes 19a-c exhibited high Diels-Alder reactivities with electron-rich alkenes. Dienes 19a-c also reacted with allyl alcohols 55-58 in the presence of stanoxane catalyst 53 to give cycloadducts 59-62 via transesterification and intramolecular cycloaddition. Although alpha-alkoxycarbonylnitrones 64 have been very attractive nitrones for the syntheses of amino acids, the nitrones 64 exist as equilibrating mixtures of (E)-64 and (Z)-64. To solve this problem, three methods were explored: 1) sequential transesterification and intermolecular cycloaddition of nitrones 64 with allyl alcohols; 2) use of chiral and geometry-fixed nitrone 84; and 3) selective activation of (Z)-64 by Eu(fod)3. These methods were applied to syntheses of nikkomycins, clavalanine, and beta-substituted alpha-amino acids. The reactions of photoinduced carbonyl ylides from alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma,delta-epoxy nitriles were studied. Direct irradiation (lambda = 254 nm) of (E)-129 led selectively to products arising from the carbonyl ylide XXV or the carbene intermediate XXVI. The carbonyl ylides generated from (E)-129, (E)-139, and (Z)-143 were trapped with MeOH in the presence of amine, affording the corresponding acetals in moderate yields (Schemes 42 and 43). Photocyclization reactions of delta-hydroxyalkyl epoxy nitriles 148a-e led to spiro acetals arising from the carbonyl ylides (Scheme 45). The photoinduced carbonyl ylides from the epoxy dinitriles 158 and 160-163 underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with enol ethers, leading to a tetrahydrofuran system (Schemes 49 and 50, Table 14). Electrocyclization of 3-butadienylindoles 184 to intermediary dihydrocarbazoles XXXII followed by elimination of MeOH gave 3-oxyganated carbazoles 185, which were transformed to carbazole alkaloids hyellazole 168, 4-demethoxycarbazomycin B 170 and carazostatin 171, respectively. Claisen rearrangement of 3-(1-amino-1-vinyloxy) indolines derived from 3-hydroxyindolines 192 and amide acetal 193 gave indol-4-ylacetamides 194, which was reduced to afford 4-(2-aminoethyl) indoles 198, which has a framework of biologically active 4-substituted indole compounds. Claisen rearrangement of 3-allyloxyindoles produced in situ by condensation of indolin-3-ones 202 with allyl alcohols 203 and 206-211 gave 2-allylindolin-3-ones 204, 205 and 212-220. The domino reactions, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of 2-allyloxyindole 233, isomerization, and Claisen rearrangement produced 3-allylindolin-2-one 234, which was derivatized to 3a-allylpyrrolo [2,3-b] indole alkaloid, flustramine C 221. Reverse aromatic Cope rearrangement of 2-allyl-3-indolidene acetonitriles 241-243, formed by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of 2-allylindolin-3-ones 238-240, afforded indoles 244-246.

[Synthetic studies of the bioactive natural products by using the thermal electrocyclic reaction of 6 pi electron systems]

We are developing the synthesis of biologically interesting condensed-heteroaromatic compounds, including natural products by the thermal electrocyclic reaction of 6 pi electron system incorporating the double bond of the principal aromatic or heteroaromatic ring. In this report, we describe three types of electrocyclic reactions as follows; 1) the synthesis of highly-substituted carbazole alkaloids based on the allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving an indole 2,3-bond, 2) the synthesis of beta-carboline alkaloids and isoquinoline-5,8-quinone alkaloids based on the thermal electrocyclic reaction of an 1-azahexatriene system involving an indole 2,3-bond or benzene 1,2-bond, and 3) the synthesis of new tetracyclic pyrido[2,3-b]indole, grossularines, based on the thermal electrocyclic of an 2-azahexatriene system including the indole 2,3-bond.

A beta-lactam-based stereoselective access to beta,gamma-dihydroxy alpha-amino acid-derived peptides with either alpha,beta-like or unlike configurations

A concise access to alpha,beta-dihydroxy alpha-amino acid-derived N-carboxy anhydrides (NCAs) with either like or unlike relative configuration is described. The key steps of the synthetic route are the preparation of the nonracemic 4-alkenyl beta-lactams, through either Horner-type olefination of a common 4-formyl beta-lactam or the Corey-Winter alkene synthesis applied to 4-dihydroxyalkyl beta-lactams, followed by the Sharpless AD reaction, and a subsequent ring expansion of the corresponding 4-substituted 3-hydroxy beta-lactams promoted by TEMPO. The opening of thus-prepared NCAs upon treatment with different O- and N-nucleophiles, including alpha-amino esters which lead to peptides, has also been studied under various reaction conditions.

New indole derivatives with free radical scavenging activity from Agrocybe cylindracea

Two new indole derivatives were isolated as free radical scavengers from the MeOH extract of Agrocybe cylindracea. The structures of these compounds were determined to be 6-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (1) and 6-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-acetamide (2) on the basis of spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, with IC50 values of 4.1 and 3.9 micrograms/mL, respectively.

Betulinans A and B, two benzoquinone compounds from Lenzites betulina

Two lipid peroxidation inhibitors, designated as betulinans A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of Lenzites betulina. The structures of these compounds have been determined to be 2,5-diphenyl-3,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone and 2-phenyl-3-methoxy-[1H-2-benzopyran][4,3-e][p]benzoquinone, respectively, on the basis of various spectral data. Betulinans A and B inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC50 values of 0.46 and 2.88 micrograms/mL, respectively.