Kevin M. Byrne

Discovery of okilactomycin and congeners from Streptomyces scabrisporus by antisense differential sensitivity assay targeting ribosomal protein S4.

Protein synthesis inhibition is a highly successful target for developing clinically effective and safe antibiotics. There are several targets within the ribosomal machinery, and small ribosomal protein S4 (RPSD) is one of the newer targets. Screening of microbial extracts using antisense-sensitized rpsD Staphylococcus aureus strain led to isolation of okilactomycin and four new congeners from Streptomyces scabrisporus. The major compound, okilactomycin, was the most active, with a minimum detection concentration of 3–12 μg ml−1 against antisense assay, and showed an MIC of 4–16 μg ml−1 against Gram-positive bacteria, including S. aureus. The congeners were significantly less active in all assays, and all compounds showed a slight preferential inhibition of RNA synthesis over DNA and protein synthesis. Antisense technology, due to increased sensitivity, continues to yield new, even though weakly active, antibiotics.

Isolation, Structure, and Antibacterial Activities of Lucensimycins D−G, Discovered from Streptomyces lucensis MA7349 Using an Antisense Strategy⊥

Bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics continues to grow, necessitating the discovery of new compounds of this type. Antisense-based whole-cell target-based screening is a new and highly sensitive antibiotic discovery approach that has led to a number of new natural product antibiotics. Screening with a rpsD-sensitized strain led to the discovery of a number of natural product polyketides from Streptomyces lucensis. Complete workup of the fermentation extract of this strain allowed for the isolation of seven new compounds, lucensimycins A-G (1-3, 4a, 5-7), with varying degrees of antibacterial activities. Lucensimycin E (5) exhibited the best activity and showed MIC values of 32 microg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 8 microg/mL against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The isolation, structure elucidation, and antibacterial activities of four new members, lucensimycins D-G, are described. Lucensimycins D (4a) and E (5) are N-acetyl-l-cysteine adducts of lucensimycin A (1). Semisynthesis of lucensimycins D and E from lucensimycin A has also been described. Lucensimycins F and G are myo-inositolyl-alpha-2-amino-2-deoxy-l-idosyl amide derivatives of lucensimycins D and E, respectively. The relative configuration of these compounds was determined, in part, by molecular dynamics simulations.

Distribution of zaragozic acids (squalestatins) among filamentous ascomycetes

The search for squalene synthase inhibitors of microbial origin has resulted in the discovery of a new class of fungal metabolites, the zaragozic acids (squalestatins). During our survey of representatives of most major groups of fungi and filamentous bacteria, the zaragozic acids were not found in prokaryotes Zygomycotina, or Basidiomycotina. All the fungal producers encountered to date are Ascomycotina, their related anamorphic states or sterile organisms with ascomycete affinities. Members of at least II different taxa of fungi are capable of making zaragozic acids. Zaragozic acid A (squalestatin 1) appears to be the most prevalent among the different fungal taxa. In several cases we have observed production in multiple strains of the same species; for example, nearly all strains of Sporormiella intermedia, that we have examined, produce zaragozic acid B. The discovery of the zaragozic acids illustrates how knowledge of fungal biology and biochemistry can enhance the search for new chemical entities. Simultaneous screening of fungi from diverse phylogenetic and ecological origins was emphasized to discover new zaragozic acids rather than simply relying on organisms from a single kind of substratum from geographically disparate sources.

Discovery and antibacterial activity of glabramycin A–C from Neosartorya glabra by an antisense strategy

Treatment of drug-resistant bacteria is a significant unmet medical need. This challenge can be met only by the discovery and development of new antibiotics. Antisense technology is one of the newest discovery tools that provides enhanced sensitivity for detection of antibacterials, and has led to the discovery of a number of interesting new antibacterial natural products. Continued utilization of this technology led to the discovery of three new bicyclic lactones, glabramycins A–C, from a Neosartorya glabra strain. Glabramycin C showed strong antibiotic activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC 2 μg ml−1) and modest antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 16 μg ml−1). The isolation, structure, relative configuration and antibacterial activity, and plausible biogenesis of these compounds have been discussed.

Isolation, structure and antibacterial activity of pleosporone from a pleosporalean ascomycete discovered by using antisense strategy.

Protein synthesis is one of the best antibacterial targets that have led to the development of a number of highly successful clinical drugs. Protein synthesis is catalyzed by ribosome, which is comprised of a number of ribosomal proteins that help the catalysis process. Ribosomal protein S4 (RPSD) is one of the proteins that is a part of the ribosomal machinery and is a potential new target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. Screening of microbial extracts using antisense-sensitized rpsD Staphylococcus aureus strain led to the isolation of pleosporone, a new compound, with modest antibacterial activities with MIC ranging from 1 to 64 microg/mL. This compound showed the highest sensitivity for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, and exhibited MICs of 4 and 1 microg/mL, respectively. Pleosporone showed modest selectivity for the inhibition of RNA synthesis compared to DNA and protein synthesis, and showed activity against HeLa cells. Isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activity of pleosporone have been described.

Isolation, Structure, and Antibacterial Activity of Phaeosphenone from a Phaeosphaeria sp. Discovered by Antisense Strategy

Ribosomal protein S4 (RPSD), a part of the ribosomal small subunit, is one of the proteins that is a part of the ribosomal machinery and is a potential new target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. Continued screening of microbial extracts using antisense-sensitized rpsD Staphylococcus aureus strain led to the isolation of a new dimeric compound, phaeosphenone (2). Compound 2 showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, exhibiting MIC values ranging from 8 to 64 microg/mL. Phaeosphenone showed the highest sensitivity for Streptococcus pneumoniae (8 microg/mL) and inhibited the growth of Candida albicans with an MIC of 8 microg/mL. Phaeosphenone showed a modest selectivity for the inhibition of RNA synthesis over DNA and protein synthesis in S. aureus.