Antibiotic Substances from Basidiomycetes: IX. Drosophila Subtarata. (Batsch Ex Fr.) Quel

Recent advances in developing modified C14 side chain pleuromutilins as novel antibacterial agents

Owing to the increasing resistance to most existing antimicrobial drugs, research has shifted towards developing novel antimicrobial agents with mechanisms of action distinct from those of current clinical options. Pleuromutilins are antibiotics known for their distinct mechanism of action, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome. Recent studies have revealed that pleuromutilin derivatives can disrupt bacterial cell membranes, thereby enhancing antibacterial efficacy. Both marketed pleuromutilin derivatives and those in clinical trials have been developed by structurally modifying the pleuromutilin C14 side chain to improve their antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this review aims to review advancement in the chemical structural characteristics, antibacterial activities, and structure-activity relationship studies of pleuromutilins, specifically focusing on modifications made to the C14 side chain in recent years. These findings provide a valuable reference for future research and development of pleuromutilins.

Hit-to-Lead Identification and Validation of a Triaromatic Pleuromutilin Antibiotic Candidate

Herein, we report the hit-to-lead identification of a drug-like pleuromutilin conjugate 16, based on a triaromatic hit reported in 2020. The lead arose as the clear candidate from a hit-optimization campaign in which Gram-positive antibacterial activity, solubility, and P-gp affinity were optimized. Conjugate 16 was extensively evaluated for its in vitro ADMET performance which, apart from solubility, was overall on par with lefamulin. This evaluation included Caco-2 cell permeability, plasma protein binding, hERG inhibition, cytotoxicity, metabolism in microsomes and CYP3A4, resistance induction, and time-kill kinetics. Intravenous pharmacokinetics of 16 proved satisfactory in both mice and pigs; however, oral bioavailability was limited likely due to insufficient solubility. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated in mice, systemically infected with Staphylococcus aureus, where 16 showed rapid reduction in blood bacteriaemia. Through our comprehensive studies, lead 16 has emerged as a highly promising and safe antibiotic candidate for the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections.

Drosophilin A methyl ether (DAME) and other chlorinated dimethoxybenzenes in fungi and forest litter from Sweden

Fungi and substrates undergoing fungal decomposition were collected from forests in northern and southern Sweden and analyzed for chlorinated dimethoxybenzenes (DMBs). Specimens were fungi fruiting bodies, rotting wood, forest litter and underlying humus. Targeted compounds were DAME (1,2,4,5-tetrachloro-3,6-DMB) and related fungal secondary metabolites. A screening procedure was developed which involved soaking the specimens in ethyl acetate followed by analysis by capillary gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with mass selective detection (GC-MSD). DAME was the most frequently found (62% of 47 specimens) and often the most abundant target compound, with range and mean ± SD concentrations of <0.0017-3.81 and 0.21 ± 0.63 mg kg-1 ww. Based on log-log correlations of partition coefficients of hydrophobic compounds between fungal biomass/water (KD) and octanol/water (KOW), five species of fungi are suggested to produce DAME de novo versus bioaccumulation from forest runoff water. Full-scan mass spectra of some high-concentration specimens indicated the presence of a Cl2DMB and a Cl3DMB, which could not be identified further due to lack of standards, and drosophilin A (DA = 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-methoxyphenol), the precursor to DAME. Tetrachloroveratrole (TeCV = 1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-5,6-DMB) was found in only a few specimens. This study supports our hypothesis of fungi as a source of DAME in terrestrial runoff and indicates that other chlorinated secondary metabolites are present. DAME is widely distributed globally, and it would be good to have a better understanding of its sources and pathways as a marker of terrestrial organochlorines and their availability for bioaccumulation.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives targeting the 50S ribosomal subunit for antibacterial ability

Multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have become a major global public health concern. Therefore, developing new antibiotics that do not possess cross-resistance for the currently available antibiotics is critical. Herein, we synthesized a novel class of pleuromutilin derivatives containing substituted triazine with improved antibacterial activity. Among these derivatives, 6d, which contains 4-dimethylamino-1,3,5-triazine in the side chain of pleuromutilin, exhibited highly promising antimicrobial activity and mitigated antibiotic resistance. The high antibacterial potency of 6d was further supported by docking model analysis and green fluorescent protein inhibition assay. Additionally, cytotoxicity and acute oral toxicity evaluation and in vivo mouse systemic infection experiments revealed that 6d possessed tolerable toxicity and promising therapeutic efficacy.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing substituted benzoxazole as antibacterial agents

A series of pleuromutilin analogs containing substituted benzoxazole were designed, synthesised, and assessed for their antibacterial activity both in vivo and in vitro. The MIC of the synthesised derivatives was initially assessed using the broth dilution method against four strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, S. aureus ATCC 29213, clinical isolation of S. aureus AD3 and S. aureus 144). Most of the synthesised derivatives displayed prominent in vitro activity (MIC ≤ 0.5 µg/mL). Compounds 50 and 57 exhibited the most effective antibacterial effect against MRSA (MIC = 0.125 µg/mL). Furthermore, the time-kill curves showed that compounds 50 and 57 had a certain inhibitory effect against MRSA in vitro. The in vivo antibacterial activity of compound 50 was evaluated further using a murine thigh model infected with MRSA (-1.24 log10CFU/mL). Compound 50 exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy to tiamulin. It was also found that compound 50 did not display significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular docking study revealed that compound 50 can effectively bind to the active site of the 50S ribosome (the binding free energy -7.50 kcal/mol).

Discovery of urea-based pleuromutilin derivatives as potent gram-positive antibacterial agents

There is an urgent need to discover new antibacterial drugs and provide new treatment options for clinical antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogen infections. Inspired by the structural insights from analyzing the co-crystal structure of lefamulin with the ribosomes of S. aureus, a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives of phenylene sulfide incorporated with urea moiety were designed and synthesized. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that derivatives with urea in the meta position of phenylene sulfide had optimal antibacterial activities in vitro. Among them, 21h was the most potent one against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clinical AMR Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range of 0.00195-0.250 μg/mL. And it possessed low resistance frequency, prolonged Post-Antibiotic Effect and the capability to overcome lefamulin-induced resistance. Furthermore, 21h exhibited potent antibacterial activity in vivo in both the thigh infection model and trauma infection model, representing a promising lead for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive pathogens, especially for AMR bacteria.

Discovery of Quaternized Pyridine-Thiazole-Pleuromutilin Derivatives with Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial and Potent Anti-MRSA Activity

The quaternization of compounds has emerged as a promising molecular design strategy for the development of antibiotics. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, antibacterial activities, and structure-activity relationships of a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing a quaternary amine C-14 side chain. Most of these derivatives exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. 10b was the most effective antibacterial agent that displayed excellent antibacterial activity against five clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, remarkable antimycoplasma activity, rapid bactericidal effects, and a strong ability to damage bacterial biofilms. Further mechanistic studies indicated that 10b destroyed bacterial cell membranes to exert its antibacterial effects. Moreover, 10b exhibited high survival protection and potent in vivo antibacterial efficacy (ED₅₀ = 4.94 mg/kg) in a mouse model of systemic MRSA infection. These findings suggest that 10b is a promising candidate for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant infectious diseases, especially MRSA infections.

Halomethoxybenzenes in air of the Nordic region

Halomethoxybenzenes (HMBs) are a group of compounds with natural and anthropogenic origins. Here we extend a 2002-2015 survey of bromoanisoles (BAs) in the air and precipitation at Råö on the Swedish west coast and Pallas in Subarctic Finland. New BAs data are reported for 2018 and 2019 and chlorinated HMBs are included for these and some previous years: drosophilin A methyl ether (DAME: 1,2,4,5-tetrachloro-3,6-dimethoxybenzene), tetrachloroveratrole (TeCV: 1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-5,6-dimethoxybenzene), and pentachloroanisole (PeCA). The order of abundance of HMBs at Råö was ΣBAs > DAME > TeCV > PeCA, whereas at Pallas the order of abundance was DAME > ΣBAs > TeCA > PeCA. The lower abundance of BAs at Pallas reflects its inland location, away from direct marine influence. Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) plots of log partial pressure (P_air)/Pa versus 1/T suggested distant transport at both sites for PeCA and local exchange for DAME and TeCV. BAs were dominated by distant transport at Pallas and by both local and distant sources at Råö. Relationships between air and precipitation concentrations were examined by scavenging ratios, SR = (ng m^-3)_precip/(ng m^-3)_air. SRs were higher at Pallas than Råö due to greater Henry's law partitioning of gaseous compounds into precipitation at colder temperatures. DAME is produced by terrestrial fungi. We screened 19 fungal species from Swedish forests and found seven of them contained 0.01-3.8 mg DAME per kg fresh weight. We suggest that the volatilization of DAME from fungi and forest litter containing fungal mycelia may contribute to atmospheric levels at both sites.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives possessing 4-aminothiophenol linker as promising antibacterial agents

A series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing 4-aminothiophenol moieties have been designed and synthesized as promising antibacterial agents against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The in vitro antibacterial activity of these semisynthetic derivatives against 4 strains of S. aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, S. aureus ATCC 29213, S. aureus 144 and S. aureus AD3) was evaluated by the broth dilution method. Most of the synthesized derivatives displayed prominent in vitro activity (MIC ≤ 0.5 µg/mL). 12 Compounds possessed superior antibacterial activity against MRSA compared with valnemulin and retapamulin (MIC = 0.0625 µg/mL). Compounds 12, 16a, 16c and 19 exhibited the most effective antibacterial effect against MRSA (MIC = 0.015 µg/mL). Furthermore, the time-kill curves showed compounds 12 and 19 had a certain inhibitory effect against MRSA in vitro. Compounds 12 and 19 possessed longer PAE time (2.74 h and 3.11 h, respectively) than tiamulin (PAE = 2.04 h) against MRSA after exposure at 4 × MIC concentration for 2 h. Compounds 12 and 19 also displayed superior in vivo antibacterial efficacy (-1.20 log10 CFU/mL and -1.21 log10 CFU/mL, respectively) than tiamulin (-0.75 log10 CFU/mL) in reducing MRSA load in the mice thigh infection model. In addition, compound 19 had barely inhibitory effect on RAW 264.7 and 16HBE cells at 8 µg/mL. In molecular docking study, upon docking into the 50S ribosomal subunit, the binding free energy (ΔGb) of compound 12 and 19 was calculated to be -9.02 kcal/mol and -9.89 kcal/mol, respectively.

Semisynthetic pleuromutilin antimicrobials with therapeutic potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by targeting 50S ribosomal subunit

A series of pleuromutilin analogs with a substituted 1,2,4-triazole were designed, synthesized and assessed for their in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity. Initially, the MIC of the synthesized derivatives against five strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, S. aureus ATCC 29213, clinical isolation of S. aureus AD3, S. aureus 144 and S. aureus SA17) were tested by the broth dilution method. Compounds 30a, 31b and 32a were the most active antibacterial agents in vitro against MRSA (MIC = 0.0625 μg/mL). The results of the time-kill curves showed that compounds 30a and 32a could reduce the amount of MRSA in vitro quickly (-7.70 log10 CFU/mL and -7.10 log10 CFU/mL reduction). In the experiment to further evaluate the in vivo antibacterial activity of compound 30a against MRSA, compound 30a (-1.71 log10 CFU/g) was effective in reducing MRSA load in thigh infected mice. Compound 30a (survival rate was 50%) displayed superior in vivo efficacy to that of tiamulin (survival rate was 30%) in the mouse systemic model. The results of further pharmacokinetic studies on compound 30a showed that the half-life (t1/2), clearance rate (Cl) and the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC0→∞) of compound 30a were 0.37 h, 5.43 L/h/kg and 1.84 μg h/mL, respectively. After affinity measurement by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), compound 30a exhibited high affinity with the 50S ribosome, with KD value of 1.95 × 10-6 M. Furthermore, the results of molecular docking studies revealed that compound 30a was successfully localized inside the binding pocket of 50S ribosomal subunit (ΔGb = -9.40 kcal/mol). Meanwhile, most of these compounds had no significant inhibitory effect on RAW 264.7 cells and 16HBE cells at the concentration of 8 μg/mL. The obtained outcomes showed that compound 30a could be utilized as an encouraging perspective in the development of a new therapeutic candidate for bacterial infection.

Design, synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of pleuromutilin derivatives

We report herein the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of pleuromutilin derivatives containing urea/thiourea functionalities. The antibacterial activities of these new pleuromutilin derivatives were evaluated in vitro against Gram-positive pathogens (GPPs) (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecium) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae by the broth dilution method. Most of the targeted compounds exhibit good potency in inhibiting the growth of pathogens including Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA, ATCC29213, MIC: 0.0625-16 μg/mL), Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, ATCC43300, MIC: 0.125-16 μg/mL) and M. pneumoniae (ATCC15531 MIC: 0.125-1 μg/mL, ATCC29342 MIC: 0.0625-0.25 μg/mL and drug resistant strain MIC: 0.5-2 μg/mL). In particular, the compounds 6m and 6n containing phenyl-urea group showed excellent activity with the MIC value less than 0.0625 μg/mL against S. aureus ATCC29213. The compound 6h exhibited better activity than tiamulin against Methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC43300.

Discovery of Novel Pleuromutilin Derivatives as Potent Antibacterial Agents for the Treatment of MRSA Infection

A series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing nitrogen groups on the side chain of C14 were synthesized under mild conditions. Most of the synthesized derivatives displayed potent antibacterial activities. Compound 9 was found to be the most active antibacterial derivative against MRSA (MIC = 0.06 μg/mL). Furthermore, the result of time-kill curves showed that compound 9 had a certain inhibitory effect against MRSA in vitro. Moreover, according to a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) study, compound 9 (KD = 1.77 × 10-8 M) showed stronger affinity to the 50S ribosome than tiamulin (KD = 2.50 × 10-8 M). The antibacterial activity of compound 9 was further evaluated in an MRSA-infected murine thigh model. Compared to the negative control group, tiamulin reduced MRSA load (~0.7 log10 CFU/mL), and compound 9 performed a treatment effect (~1.3 log10 CFU/mL). In addition, compound 9 was evaluated in CYP450 inhibition assay and showed only moderate in vitro CYP3A4 inhibition (IC50 = 2.92 μg/mL).

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pleuromutilin-Schiff base hybrids as potent anti-MRSA agents in vitro and in vivo

A series of pleuromutilin derivatives with 1,2,4-triazole-3-substituted Schiff base structure were designed and synthesized under mild conditions. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized derivatives against 4 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, S.aureus ATCC 29213, S.aureus 144 and S.aureus AD3) and 1 strain of E. coli (ATCC 25922) were evaluated by the broth dilution method. Among these derivatives, compound 60 exhibited superior in vitro antibacterial effect against MRSA (MIC = 0.25 μg/mL) than tiamulin (MIC = 0.5 μg/mL), and compound 60 (-2.28 log10 CFU/mL) also displayed superior in vivo antibacterial efficacy than tiamulin (-1.40 log10 CFU/mL) in reducing MRSA load in the mouse thigh infection model. The time-kill study and the post-antibiotic effect study indicated that compound 60 showed a faster bactericidal kinetic and longer PAE time (exposure to 2 × MIC and 4 × MIC for 2 h, the PAE was 4.06 and 4.27 h) against MRSA compared with tiamulin (exposure to 2 × MIC and 4 × MIC for 2 h, the PAE was 1.72 and 2.14 h). Meanwhile, most of these compounds had no significant inhibitory effect on RAW 264.7 cells and HepG2 cells at the concentration of 4 μg/mL. Additionally, the development of resistance study showed that MRSA did not easily develop resistance against compound 60 compared with tiamulin after induction for 8 passages.

Organoboron Compounds: Effective Antibacterial and Antiparasitic Agents

The unique electron deficiency and coordination property of boron led to a wide range of applications in chemistry, energy research, materials science and the life sciences. The use of boron-containing compounds as pharmaceutical agents has a long history, and recent developments have produced encouraging strides. Boron agents have been used for both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In radiotherapy, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been investigated to treat various types of tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) of brain, head and neck tumors, etc. Boron agents playing essential roles in such treatments and other well-established areas have been discussed elsewhere. Organoboron compounds used to treat various diseases besides tumor treatments through BNCT technology have also marked an important milestone. Following the clinical introduction of bortezomib as an anti-cancer agent, benzoxaborole drugs, tavaborole and crisaborole, have been approved for clinical use in the treatments of onychomycosis and atopic dermatitis. Some heterocyclic organoboron compounds represent potentially promising candidates for anti-infective drugs. This review highlights the clinical applications and perspectives of organoboron compounds with the natural boron atoms in disease treatments without neutron irradiation. The main topic focuses on the therapeutic applications of organoboron compounds in the diseases of tuberculosis and antifungal activity, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives as potent anti-MRSA agents targeting the 50S ribosome

A series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives were designed and synthesized with 1,2,4-triazole as the linker connected to benzoyl chloride analogues under mild conditions. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized derivatives against four strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, ATCC 29213, AD3 and 144) were tested by the broth dilution method. Most of the synthesized derivatives displayed potent activities, and 22-(3-amino-2-(4-methyl-benzoyl)-1,2,4-triazole-5-yl)-thioacetyl)-22-deoxypleuromutilin (compound 12) was found to be the most active antibacterial derivative against MRSA (MIC = 0.125 μg/mL). Furthermore, the time-kill curves showed compound 12 had a certain inhibitory effect against MRSA in vitro. The in vivo antibacterial activity of compound 12 was further evaluated using MRSA infected murine thigh model. Compound 12 exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy than tiamulin. It was also found that compound 12 had no significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells. Compound 12 was further evaluated in CYP450 inhibition assay and showed moderate inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 (IC50 = 3.95 μM). Moreover, seven candidate compounds showed different affinities with the 50S ribosome by SPR measurement. Subsequently, binding of compound 12 and 20 to the 50S ribosome was further investigated by molecular modeling. Three strong hydrogen bonds were formed through the interaction of compound 12 and 20 with 50S ribosome. The binding free energy of compound 12 and 20 with the ribosome was calculated to be -10.7 kcal/mol and -11.66 kcal/mol, respectively.

Antibacterial Compounds from Mushrooms: A Lead to Fight ESKAPEE Pathogenic Bacteria?

Infectious diseases are among the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century, and one critical concern is due to antibiotic resistance developed by an increasing number of bacterial strains. New resistance mechanisms are emerging with many infections becoming more and more difficult if not impossible to treat. This growing phenomenon not only is associated with increased mortality but also with longer hospital stays and higher medical costs. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to find new antibiotics targeting pathogenic microorganisms such as ESKAPEE bacteria. Most of currently approved antibiotics are derived from microorganisms, but higher fungi could constitute an alternative and remarkable reservoir of anti-infectious compounds. For instance, pleuromutilins constitute the first class of antibiotics derived from mushrooms. However, macromycetes still represent a largely unexplored source. Publications reporting the antibacterial potential of mushroom extracts are emerging, but few purified compounds have been evaluated for their bioactivity on pathogenic bacterial strains. Therefore, the aim of this review is to compile up-to-date data about natural products isolated from fruiting body fungi, which significantly inhibit the growth of ESKAPEE pathogenic bacteria. When available, data regarding modes of action and cytotoxicity, mandatory when considering a possible drug development, have been discussed in order to highlight the most promising compounds.

Discovery of a Potent Adenine-Benzyltriazolo-Pleuromutilin Conjugate with Pronounced Antibacterial Activity against MRSA

Conjugation of pleuromutilin is an attractive strategy for the development of novel antibiotics and the fight against multiresistant bacteria as the class is associated with low rates of resistance and cross-resistance development. Herein, the preparation of 35 novel (+)-pleuromutilin conjugates is reported. Their design was based on a synthetically more efficient benzyl adaption of a potent lead but still relied on the Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide [3 + 2] cycloaddition for conjugation onto pleuromutilin. Their antibacterial activity was evaluated against the multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300 for which they displayed moderate to excellent activity. Compound 35, bearing a para-benzyladenine substituent, proved particularly potent against USA300 and additional strains of MRSA and displayed as importantly no cytotoxicity in four mammalian cell lines. Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the purine 6-amino is essential for high potency, likely because of strong hydrogen bonding with the RNA backbone of C2469, as suggested by a molecular model based on the MM-GBSA approach.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing piperazine and 1,2,3-triazole linker

A series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives containing piperazine ring, 1, 2, 3-triazoles and secondary amines on the side chain of C14 were synthesized under mild conditions via click reaction. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized derivatives against four strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, ATCC 29213 ,144 and AD3) and one strain of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) were evaluated by the broth dilution method. Among these derivatives, 22-[2-(4-((4-nitrophenyl piperazine)methyl)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-1-(piperazine-1-yl) ethyl-1-one] deoxy pleuromutilin (compound 59) showed the most prominent in vitro antibacterial effect against MRSA (MIC = 1 μg/mL). Furthermore, compound 59 displayed more rapid bactericidal kinetic than tiamulin time-kill studies and possessed a longer PAE than tiamulin against MRSA in vitro. In addition, in vivo antibacterial activities of compound 59 against MRSA were further evaluated employing thigh infection model. And compound 59 (-8.89 log10 CFU/mL) displayed superior activities than tiamulin. Compound 59 was further evaluated in CYP450 inhibition assay and the results showed that it exhibited low to moderate inhibitory effects on CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzymes. The PK properties of compound 59 were then measured. The half-life (t1/2), clearance rate (Cl) and the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC0→∞) of compound 59 were 0.74 h, 0.29 L/h/kg and 46.28 μg·h/mL, respectively.

Synthesis, biological activities, and docking study of novel chalcone-pleuromutilin derivatives

The issue of antibiotic resistance is becoming progressively serious these days, and the feasible solution to address it is to develop and discover novel antibiotics. The diterpene natural pleuromutilin is a prominent candidate for its special mode of action by inhibiting protein synthesis. In this study, a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives with chalcone moiety was designed and synthesized, and their antibacterial activities were assessed in vitro. As suggested from the results, most of compounds exhibited potent activities against two methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 33591 and 43300. The further modification of the chalcone structure, aza-cyclic derivatives were afforded and then assessed, and potent activities against the tested strains were reported. The preliminary docking studies were conducted to explore the interactions between target molecules and binding site.

Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products Containing Eight-Membered Carbocycles (2009-2019)

Natural products containing eight-membered carbocycles constitute a class of structurally intriguing and biologically important molecules such as the famous diterpenes taxol and vinigrol. Such natural products are being increasingly investigated because of their fascinating architectural features and potent medicinal properties. However, synthesis of natural products with cyclooctane moieties has proved to be highly challenging. This review highlights the recently completed total syntheses of natural products with eight-membered carbocycles with a focus on strategic considerations. A collection of 27 representative studies from the literature covering the decade from 2009 to 2019 is described in chronological order with relevant studies grouped together, including syntheses of the same natural product by different research groups using different strategies. Finally, a summary and outlook including a discussion of the major features of each strategy used in the syntheses are presented. This review illustrates the diversity and creativity in the elegant synthetic designs of eight-membered carbocycles. We hope this review will provide timely illumination and beneficial guidance for future synthetic efforts for organic chemists who are interested in this area.

Macrofilaricides: An Unmet Medical Need for Filarial Diseases

Neglected parasitic helminth diseases such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis affect an estimated 145 million people worldwide, creating a serious health burden in endemic areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and India. Although these diseases are not usually lethal, these filarial nematodes, transmitted by blood-feeding insect vectors, cause severe debilitation and cause chronic disability to infected individuals. The adult worms can reproduce from 5 to up to 14 years, releasing millions of microfilariae, juvenile worms, over an infected individual's lifetime. The current treatments for controlling human filarial infections is focused on killing microfilariae, the earliest larval stage. Currently, there is an unmet medical need for treatments consisting of a macrofilaricidal regimen, one that targets the adult stage of the parasite, to increase the rate of elimination, allow for safe use in coendemic regions of Onchocerca volvulus and Loa loa, and to provide a rapid method to resolve reinfections. Herein, recent approaches for targeting human filarial diseases are discussed, including direct acting agents to target parasitic nematodes and antibacterial approaches to target the endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives possessing acetamine phenyl linker

A series of novel acetamine phenyl pleuromutilin derivatives incorporating 2-aminothiophenol moieties into the C14 side chain were synthesized via acylation reactions under mild conditions. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized derivatives against three Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300, ATCC 29213 and AD 3) and two Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922 and 9-1) were evaluated by the broth dilution method. Most of the synthesized derivatives displayed potent activities. Compound 27 was found to be the most active antibacterial derivative against MRSA (minimal inhibitory concentration = 0.015 μg/mL) which may lead to a promising antibacterial drug. Furthermore, compound 27 displayed more rapid bactericidal kinetic than tiamulin in in vitro time-kill studies and possessed a longer PAE than tiamulin against MRSA. The PK properties of compound 27 were then measured. The half life (t1/2), clearance rate (Cl) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0→∞) of compound 27 were 6.88 h, 21.64 L/h/kg and 0.48 μg h/mL, respectively. The in vivo antibacterial activities of compound 27 against MRSA were further evaluated using thigh infection model and systemic infection model. Compound 27 possessed superior antibacterial efficacy to tiamulin against MRSA infection in both model.

Boron-Pleuromutilins as Anti- Wolbachia Agents with Potential for Treatment of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis

A series of pleuromutilins modified by introduction of a boron-containing heterocycle on C(14) of the polycyclic core are described. These analogs were found to be potent anti- Wolbachia antibiotics and, as such, may be useful in the treatment of filarial infections caused by Onchocerca volvulus, resulting in Onchocerciasis or river blindness, or Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi and related parasitic nematodes resulting in lymphatic filariasis. These two important neglected tropical diseases disproportionately impact patients in the developing world. The lead preclinical candidate compound containing 7-fluoro-6-oxybenzoxaborole (15, AN11251) was shown to have good in vitro anti- Wolbachia activity and physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties providing high exposure in plasma. The lead was effective in reducing the Wolbachia load in filarial worms following oral administration to mice.

Biological and chemical diversity go hand in hand: Basidiomycota as source of new pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

The Basidiomycota constitutes the second largest higher taxonomic group of the Fungi after the Ascomycota and comprises over 30.000 species. Mycelial cultures of Basidiomycota have already been studied since the 1950s for production of antibiotics and other beneficial secondary metabolites. Despite the fact that unique and selective compounds like pleuromutilin were obtained early on, it took several decades more until they were subjected to a systematic screening for antimicrobial and anticancer activities. These efforts led to the discovery of the strobilurins and several hundreds of further compounds that mainly constitute terpenoids. In parallel the traditional medicinal mushrooms of Asia were also studied intensively for metabolite production, aimed at finding new therapeutic agents for treatment of various diseases including metabolic disorders and the central nervous system. While the evaluation of this organism group has in general been more tedious as compared to the Ascomycota, the chances to discover new metabolites and to develop them further to candidates for drugs, agrochemicals and other products for the Life Science industry have substantially increased over the past decade. This is owing to the revolutionary developments in -OMICS techniques, bioinformatics, analytical chemistry and biotechnological process technology, which are steadily being developed further. On the other hand, the new developments in polythetic fungal taxonomy now also allow a more concise selection of previously untapped organisms. The current review is dedicated to summarize the state of the art and to give an outlook to further developments.

Antibacterial properties and clinical potential of pleuromutilins

Covering: up to 2018Pleuromutilins are a clinically validated class of antibiotics derived from the fungal diterpene (+)-pleuromutilin (1). Pleuromutilins inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) of the ribosome. In this review we summarize the biosynthesis and recent total syntheses of (+)-pleuromutilin (1). We review the mode of interaction of pleuromutilins with the bacterial ribosome, which involves binding of the C14 extension and the tricyclic core to the P and A sites of the PTC, respectively. We provide an overview of existing clinical agents, and discuss the three primary modes of bacterial resistance (mutations in ribosomal protein L3, Cfr methylation, and efflux). Finally we collect structure-activity relationships from publicly available reports, and close with some forward looking statements regarding future development.

Synthesis and antibacterial activities of novel pleuromutilin derivatives bearing an aminothiophenol moiety

We synthesized a series of novel thioether pleuromutilin derivatives incorporating 2-aminothiophenol moieties into the C14 side chain via acylation reactions under mild conditions. We evaluated the in-vitro antibacterial activities of the derivatives against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, ATCC 43300), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The majority of the synthesized derivatives possessed moderate antibacterial activities. Compound 8 was found to be the most active antibacterial derivative against MRSA. We conducted docking experiments to understand the possible mode of interactions between compounds 8, 9b, 11a and 50S ribosomal subunit. The docking results proved that there is a reasonable correlation between the binding free energy and the antibacterial activity. Compound 8 was evaluated for its in-vivo antibacterial activity and showed higher efficacy than tiamulin against MRSA in mouse infection model.

Directed C-H Bond Oxidation of (+)-Pleuromutilin

Antibiotics derived from the diterpene fungal metabolite (+)-pleuromutilin (1) are useful agents for the treatment Gram-positive infections in humans and farm animals. Pleuromutilins elicit slow rates of resistance development and minimal cross-resistance with existing antibiotics. Despite efforts aimed at producing new derivatives by semisynthesis, modification of the tricyclic core is underexplored, in part due to a limited number of functional group handles. Herein, we report methods to selectively functionalize the methyl groups of (+)-pleuromutilin (1) by hydroxyl-directed iridium-catalyzed C-H silylation, followed by Tamao-Fleming oxidation. These reactions provided access to C16, C17, and C18 monooxidized products, as well as C15/C16 and C17/C18 dioxidized products. Four new functionalized derivatives were prepared from the protected C17 oxidation product. C6 carboxylic acid, aldehyde, and normethyl derivatives were prepared from the C16 oxidation product. Many of these sequences were executed on gram scales. The efficiency and practicality of these routes provides an easy method to rapidly interrogate structure-activity relationships that were previously beyond reach. This study will inform the design of fully synthetic approaches to novel pleuromutilins and underscores the power of the hydroxyl-directed iridium-catalyzed C-H silylation reaction.

Total synthesis of complex terpenoids employing radical cascade processes

Covering: 2011-2017Radical cyclizations have a rich history in organic chemistry and have been particularly generous to the field of natural product synthesis. Owing to their ability to operate in highly congested molecular quarters, and with significant functional group compatibility, these transformations have enabled the synthesis of numerous polycyclic terpenoid natural products over the past several decades. Moreover, when programmed accordingly into a synthetic plan, radical cascade processes can be used to rapidly assemble molecular complexity, much in the same way nature rapidly constructs terpene frameworks through cationic cyclization pathways. This review highlights recent total syntheses of complex terpenoids (from 2011-2017) employing C-C bond-forming radical cascade sequences.

Scalable Synthesis of a Key Intermediate for the Production of Pleuromutilin-Based Antibiotics

An improved synthesis of an eneimide, which is a useful precursor to pleuromutilin-based antibiotics, is reported. This synthesis proceeds in six steps and 17% overall yield (27% based on recovery of a key hydrindenone intermediate) and requires two fewer chromatography steps and five fewer days of reaction time than the previously reported route. The use of expensive, acutely toxic, and precious metal reagents or catalysts has been minimized.

A modular and enantioselective synthesis of the pleuromutilin antibiotics

The tricyclic diterpene fungal metabolite (+)-pleuromutilin has served as a starting point for antibiotic development. Semisynthetic modification of its glycolic acid subunit at C14 provided the first analogs fit for human use, and derivatization at C12 led to 12-epi-pleuromutilins with extended-spectrum antibacterial activity, including activity against Gram-negative pathogens. Given the inherent limitations of semisynthesis, however, accessing derivatives of (+)-pleuromutilin with full control over their structure presents an opportunity to develop derivatives with improved antibacterial activities. Here we disclose a modular synthesis of pleuromutilins by the convergent union of an enimide with a bifunctional iodoether. We illustrate our approach through synthesis of (+)-12-epi-mutilin, (+)-11,12-di-epi-mutilin, (+)-12-epi-pleuromutilin, (+)-11,12-di-epi-pleuromutilin, and (+)-pleuromutilin itself in 17 to 20 steps.

Novel pollutants in the Moscow atmosphere in winter period: Gas chromatography-high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry study

The most common mass spectrometry approach analyzing contamination of the environment deals with targeted analysis, i.e. detection and quantification of the selected (priority) pollutants. However non-targeted analysis is becoming more often the method of choice for environmental chemists. It involves implementation of modern analytical instrumentation allowing for comprehensive detection and identification of the wide variety of compounds of the environmental interest present in the sample, such as pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, musks, nanomaterials, perfluorinated compounds, hormones, disinfection by-products, flame retardants, personal care products, and many others emerging contaminants. The paper presents the results of detection and identification of previously unreported organic compounds in snow samples collected in Moscow in March 2016. The snow analysis allows evaluation of long-term air pollution in the winter period. Gas chromatography coupled to a high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer has enabled us with capability to detect and identify such novel analytes as iodinated compounds, polychlorinated anisoles and even Ni-containing organic complex, which are unexpected in environmental samples. Some considerations concerning the possible sources of origin of these compounds in the environment are discussed.

Design, synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of novel pleuromutilin derivatives possessing piperazine linker

A series of pleuromutilin derivatives bearing piperazine ring have been reported. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthetic derivatives against MRSA (ATCC 43300), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Enterococcus faecium (ATCC35667) and Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) were evaluated by the broth dilution method. Most of the synthesized derivatives displayed potent activities. Compounds 11c, 12a and 12c were found to be the most active antibacterial derivatives against MRSA (minimum inhibitory concentration = 0.015 μg/mL). The binding of compounds 11c, 12a and 12c to the 50s ribosome were investigated by molecular modeling. Compound 11c possessed lower binding free energy compared with compounds 12a and 12c. Compound 11c was further evaluated in MRSA systemic infection model and displayed superior in vivo efficacy to that of tiamulin.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of novel pleuromutilin derivatives having a piperazine ring

A series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives possessing piperazine moieties were synthesized under mild conditions. The in vitro antibacterial activities of these derivatives against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were tested by the agar dilution method. Structure-activity relationship studies resulted in compounds 11b, 13b, and 14a with the most potent in vitro antibacterial activity among the series (minimal inhibitory concentration = 0.0625-0.125 μg/mL). The binding of compounds 11b, 13b, and 14a to the E. coli ribosome was investigated by molecular modeling, and it was found that there is a reasonable correlation between the binding free energy and the antibacterial activity.

The good, the bad and the tasty: The many roles of mushrooms

Fungi are often inconspicuous in nature and this means it is all too easy to overlook their importance. Often referred to as the "Forgotten Kingdom", fungi are key components of life on this planet. The phylum Basidiomycota, considered to contain the most complex and evolutionarily advanced members of this Kingdom, includes some of the most iconic fungal species such as the gilled mushrooms, puffballs and bracket fungi. Basidiomycetes inhabit a wide range of ecological niches, carrying out vital ecosystem roles, particularly in carbon cycling and as symbiotic partners with a range of other organisms. Specifically in the context of human use, the basidiomycetes are a highly valuable food source and are increasingly medicinally important. In this review, seven main categories, or 'roles', for basidiomycetes have been suggested by the authors: as model species, edible species, toxic species, medicinal basidiomycetes, symbionts, decomposers and pathogens, and two species have been chosen as representatives of each category. Although this is in no way an exhaustive discussion of the importance of basidiomycetes, this review aims to give a broad overview of the importance of these organisms, exploring the various ways they can be exploited to the benefit of human society.

Halogenated volatiles from the fungus Geniculosporium and the actinomycete Streptomyces chartreusis

Two unidentified chlorinated volatiles X and Y were detected in headspace extracts of the fungus Geniculosporium. Their mass spectra pointed to the structures of a chlorodimethoxybenzene for X and a dichlorodimethoxybenzene for Y. The mass spectra of some constitutional isomers for X and Y were included in our databases and proved to be very similar, thus preventing a full structural assignment. For unambiguous structure elucidation all possible constitutional isomers for X and Y were obtained by synthesis or from commercial suppliers. Comparison of mass spectra and GC retention times rigorously established the structures of the two chlorinated volatiles. Chlorinated volatiles are not very widespread, but brominated or even iodinated volatiles are even more rare. Surprisingly, headspace extracts from Streptomyces chartreusis contained methyl 2-iodobenzoate, a new natural product that adds to the small family of iodinated natural products.

Bioactive acetylenic metabolites

This article focuses on anticancer, and other biological activities of acetylenic metabolites obtained from plants and fungi. Acetylenic compounds belong to a class of molecules containing triple bond(s). Naturally occurring acetylenics are of particular interest since many of them display important biological activities and possess antitumor, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and immunosuppressive properties. There are of great interest for medicine, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical industries. This review presents structures and describes cytotoxic activities of more than 100 acetylenic metabolites, including fatty alcohols, ketones, and acids, acetylenic cyclohexanoids, spiroketal enol ethers, and carotenoids isolated from fungi and plants.

Total synthesis of (+)-pleuromutilin

The first enantiospecific total synthesis of the antibacterial natural product (+)-pleuromutilin has been achieved. The approach includes the synthesis of a non-racemic cyclisation substrate from (+)-trans-dihydrocarvone, a highly selective SmI2-mediated cyclisation cascade, an electron transfer reduction of a hindered ester, and the first efficient conversion of (+)-mutilin to the target.

Are pleuromutilin antibiotics finally fit for human use?

In 1951, the first reference to the antibacterial substance pleuromutilin was made in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers had identified several species of the mold genus Pleurotus that inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The elucidation of the structure in 1962 led to the initiation of a development program at Sandoz, which was followed by the approval of tiamulin in 1979 for use in veterinary medicine. Although in 2007 retapamulin became the first pleuromutilin approved for topical use in humans, it was not until 2011, exactly 60 years after the first mention of the class, that a pleuromutilin antibiotic, BC-3781, could be tested successfully in a clinical phase II trial for systemic use in patients. This review will discuss key aspects of this antibacterial class and provide some insight into the question of why it took half a century to develop a systemic pleuromutilin for human use.

Identification of a fungi-derived terrestrial halogenated natural product in wild boar (Sus scrofa)

In this study, we identified and quantitated a tetrachlorinated compound found at high concentrations in some samples of the meat of free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Southern Germany. Mass spectrometric analysis indicated that the compound was a tetrachloromethoxyphenol isomer, and the subsequently synthesized tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol was identical with the unknown compound in wild boar. Tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol is a known secondary metabolite of basidiomycetous fungi, which in turn are regular feed items of the wild boar. It is extremely likely that the wild boar have accumulated tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol by exploiting basidiomycetes. The highest concentration in the samples (n = 22) was ~1 mg/kg lipids tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol. This concentration was higher than that of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in any of the samples. Some samples did not contain tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol, which indicates varied preferences in fungi by wild boars. Our data suggest that during their entire evolution, humans have been in contact with the natural product tetrachloro-p-methoxyphenol by consuming wild boars.

Establishing molecular tools for genetic manipulation of the pleuromutilin-producing fungus Clitopilus passeckerianus

We describe efficient polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems for a pharmaceutically important basidiomycete fungus, Clitopilus passeckerianus, which produces pleuromutilin, a diterpene antibiotic. Three dominant selectable marker systems based on hygromycin, phleomycin, and carboxin selection were used to study the feasibility of PEG-mediated transformation of C. passeckerianus. The PEG-mediated transformation of C. passeckerianus protoplasts was successful and generated hygromycin-resistant transformants more efficiently than either phleomycin or carboxin resistance. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with plasmid pBGgHg containing hph gene under the control of the Agaricus bisporus gpdII promoter led to hygromycin-resistant colonies and was successful when homogenized mycelium and fruiting body gill tissue were used as starting material. Southern blot analysis of transformants revealed the apparently random integration of the transforming DNA to be predominantly multiple copies for the PEG-mediated system and a single copy for the Agrobacterium-mediated system within the genome. C. passeckerianus actin and tubulin promoters were amplified from genomic DNA and proved successful in driving green fluorescent protein and DsRed expression in C. passeckerianus, but only when constructs contained a 5' intron, demonstrating that the presence of an intron is prerequisite for efficient transgene expression. The feasibility of RNA interference-mediated gene silencing was investigated using gfp as a target gene easily scored in C. passeckerianus. Upon transformation of gfp antisense constructs into a highly fluorescent strain, transformants were recovered that exhibited either reduced or undetectable fluorescence. This was confirmed by Northern blotting showing depletion of the target mRNA levels. This demonstrated that gene silencing is a suitable tool for modulating gene expression in C. passeckerianus. The molecular tools developed in this study should facilitate studies aimed at gene isolation or characterization in this pharmaceutically important species.

The formation and fate of chlorinated organic substances in temperate and boreal forest soils

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE

Chlorine is an abundant element, commonly occurring in nature either as chloride ions or as chlorinated organic compounds (OCls). Chlorinated organic substances were long considered purely anthropogenic products; however, they are, in addition, a commonly occurring and important part of natural ecosystems. Formation of OCls may affect the degradation of soil organic matter (SOM) and thus the carbon cycle with implications for the ability of forest soils to sequester carbon, whilst the occurrence of potentially toxic OCls in groundwater aquifers is of concern with regard to water quality. It is thus important to understand the biogeochemical cycle of chlorine, both inorganic and organic, to get information about the relevant processes in the forest ecosystem and the effects on these from human activities, including forestry practices. A survey is given of processes in the soil of temperate and boreal forests, predominantly in Europe, including the participation of chlorine, and gaps in knowledge and the need for further work are discussed.

RESULTS

Chlorine is present as chloride ion and/or OCls in all compartments of temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. It contributes to the degradation of SOM, thus also affecting carbon sequestration in the forest soil. The most important source of chloride to coastal forest ecosystems is sea salt deposition, and volcanoes and coal burning can also be important sources. Locally, de-icing salt can be an important chloride input near major roads. In addition, anthropogenic sources of OCls are manifold. However, results also indicate the formation of chlorinated organics by microorganisms as an important source, together with natural abiotic formation. In fact, the soil pool of OCls seems to be a result of the balance between chlorination and degradation processes. Ecologically, organochlorines may function as antibiotics, signal substances and energy equivalents, in descending order of significance. Forest management practices can affect the chlorine cycle, although little is at present known about how.

DISCUSSION

The present data on the apparently considerable size of the pool of OCls indicate its importance for the functioning of the forest soil system and its stability, but factors controlling their formation, degradation and transport are not clearly understood. It would be useful to estimate the significance and rates of key processes to be able to judge the importance of OCls in SOM and litter degradation. Effects of forest management processes affecting SOM and chloride deposition are likely to affect OCls as well. Further standardisation and harmonisation of sampling and analytical procedures is necessary.

CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

More work is necessary in order to understand and, if necessary, develop strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of OCls in temperate and boreal forest soils. This includes both intensified research, especially to understand the key processes of formation and degradation of chlorinated compounds, and monitoring of the substances in question in forest ecosystems. It is also important to understand the effect of various forest management techniques on OCls, as management can be used to produce desired effects.

Anticancer activity of natural and synthetic acetylenic lipids

This review is a comprehensive survey of acetylenic lipids and their derivatives, obtained from living organisms, that have anticancer activity. Acetylenic metabolites belong to a class of molecules containing triple bond(s). They are found in plants, fungi, microorganisms, and marine invertebrates. Although acetylenes are common as components of terrestrial plants, fungi, and bacteria, it is only within the last 30 years that biologically active polyacetylenes having unusual structural features have been reported from plants, cyanobacteria, algae, invertebrates, and other sources. Naturally occurring aquatic acetylenes are of particular interest since many of them display important biological activities and possess antitumor, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifouling, antifungal, pesticidal, phototoxic, HIV-inhibitory, and immunosuppressive properties. There is no doubt that they are of great interest, especially for the medicinal and/or pharmaceutical industries. This review presents structures and describes cytotoxic and anticancer activities only for more than 300 acetylenic lipids and their derivatives isolated from living organisms.

A flexible strategy for the divergent modification of pleuromutilin

The complex antibacterial natural product, pleuromutilin, can be directly modified by the radical addition reaction of various xanthates to the unactivated terminal olefin present on C-12.

Acetylenes and dichloroanisoles from Psathyrella scobinacea

The Et2O extract from Psathyrella scobinacea culture fluids contained three new acetylenic alcohols: deca-5,7,9-triynol, (-)hepta-4,6-diyne-2,3-diol, and (-)hept-cis 4-en-6-yne-2,3-diol; two known dichloroanisoles: 3,5-dichloro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 3,5-dichloro-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol; and three known acetylenic acids: octa-2,4,6-triynoic acid, dec-trans-2-ene-4,6,8-triynoic acid and its cis-isomer.

Sulfur tuft and turkey tail: biosynthesis and biodegradation of organohalogens by Basidiomycetes

Chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic compounds are generally considered to be undesirable xenobiotic pollutants. However, the higher fungi, Basidiomycetes, have a widespread capacity for organohalogen biosynthesis. Adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) and/or low-molecular-weight halogenated compounds are produced by Basidiomycetes of 68 genera from 20 different families. Most of the 81 halogenated metabolites identified from Basidiomycetes to date are chlorinated, although brominated and iodated metabolites have also been described. Two broad categories of Basidiomycete organohalogen metabolites are the halogenated aromatic compounds and the haloaliphatic compounds. Some of these organohalogen metabolites have demonstrable physiological roles as antibiotics and as metabolites involved in lignin degradation. Basidiomycetes produce large amounts of low-molecular-weight organohalogens or adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) when grown on lignocellulosic substrates. In our view, Basidiomycetes, as decomposers of forest litter, are a major source of natural organohalogens in terrestrial environments. Basidiomycetes are also potent degraders of a wide range of chlorinated pollutants, such as bleachery effluent from kraft mills and pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls. The extracellular, lignin-degrading enzymes of the Basidiomycetes are involved in the oxidative degradation of chlorophenols and dioxin and can cause reductive dechlorination of halomethanes. There is no clear-cut separation between "polluters" and "clean-uppers" within the Basidiomycetes. Several genera, e.g. Bjerkandera, Hericium, Phlebia, and Trametes, produce significant amounts of chlorinated compounds but are also highly effective in metabolizing or biotransforming chlorinated pollutants.

Don'T ban chlorine-use it wisely

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