Satoshi O̅mura

Generation of Anti-trypanosomal Agents through Concise Synthesis and Structural Diversification of Sesquiterpene Analogues

To access high-quality small-molecule libraries to screen lead candidates for neglected diseases exemplified by human African trypanosomiasis, we sought to develop a synthetic process that would produce collections of cyclic scaffolds relevant to an assortment of natural products exhibiting desirable biological activities. By extracting the common structural features among several sesquiterpenes, including artemisinin, anthecularin, and transtaganolides, we designed six types of scaffolds with systematic structural variations consisting of three types of stereochemical relationships on the sp(3) ring-junctions and two distinct arrays of tricyclic frameworks. A modular and stereodivergent assembly of dienynes exploiting a versatile manifold produced a series of cyclization precursors. Divergent cyclizations of the dienynes employing tandem ring-closing metathesis reactions overrode variant reactivities of the cyclization precursors, leading to the six canonical sets of the tricyclic scaffolds incorporating a diene group. Screenings of trypanosomal activities of the canonical sets, as well as regio- and stereoisomers of the tricyclic dienes, allowed generation of several anti-trypanosomal agents defining the three-dimensional shape of the pharmacophore. The candidate tricyclic dienes were selected by primary screenings and further subjected to installation of a peroxide bridge, which generated artemisinin analogues that exhibited potent in vitro anti-trypanosomal activities comparable or even superior to those of artemisinin and the approved drugs, suramin and eflornithine.

Total Synthesis of Salinosporamide A

The total synthesis of salinosporamide A has been achieved through enzymatic desymmetrization, diastereoselective aldol reaction, intramolecular aldol reaction, and intermolecular Reformatsky-type reaction followed by 1,4-reduction as key reactions.

Efficient Total Synthesis of Novel Bioactive Microbial Metabolites

Bioactive natural products produced by microbes have almost limitless potential in pharmaceutical applications, and the organic synthesis of such products as lead compounds will result in the creation of new and widely useful pharmaceutical products. A program of discovery of naturally occurring bioactive microbial metabolites has been ongoing at the Kitasato Institute. We have also developed efficient, rational, and highly flexible production methods for generation of target compounds, synthesis of related compounds, elucidation of their structure-activity relationships, and the possible creation of improved bioactive compounds. In this Account, the isolation and total synthesis of naturally occurring bioactive microbial metabolites in order to create novel medicines for specific illnesses is described. This covers diseases and conditions such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimers disease, cancer, inflammation, and osteoporosis, among others, and focuses on six specific compounds. Pyripyropenes were discovered from Aspergillus fumigatus FO-1289 through our screening of microbial metabolites that strongly inhibit acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in order to develop a new class of cholesterol-lowering agents. These novel polyoxygenated mixed polyketide-terpenoid (meroterpenoid) metabolites contain a fused pyridyl alpha-pyrone moiety. We carried out the first total synthesis of (+)-pyripyropene A via a flexible, concise, and highly efficient route and also clarified the structure-activity relationships. Arisugacins were discovered from Penicillium sp. FO-4259 by our screening of microbial metabolites that strongly inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in order to create novel medicines for Alzheimers disease (AD). Arisugacins are also meroterpenoids. We have achieved the first convergent total synthesis of arisugacins A and B. Lactacystin was isolated from Streptomyces sp. OM-6519 via our screening of microbial metabolites that promote the differentiation of the neuroblastoma cell to further discover new AD medicines. Lactacystin has a novel gamma-lactam thioester structure and is also a selective and strong proteasome inhibitor. We have developed a concise approach to synthesize lactacystin designed to afford easy access to the original compound and a variety of analogs. Macrosphelides were isolated from Microsphaeropsis sp. FO-5050 from our screening of microbial metabolites that inhibit the adhesion of HL-60 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Macrosphelides are the first 16-membered macrotriolides. Macrosphelides prevent cell-cell adhesion by inhibiting the binding of sialyl Lewis X to E-selectin. We have accomplished the first efficient total synthesis of macrosphelides. Madindolines were isolated from Streptomyces nitrosporeus K93-0711 by our program to discover new interleukin 6 (IL-6) modulators. Madindolines are comprised of a 3a-hydroxyfuroindoline ring connected at nitrogen via a methylene bridge to a cyclopentene-1,3-dione ring. We have developed an efficient and practical total synthesis of madindolines. Madindoline A binds to gp130 selectively and inhibits IL-6 activity. Neoxaline was isolated from Aspergillus japonicus Fg-551. Neoxaline is a member of a novel class of biologically active indole alkaloids characterized by a unique indoline spiroaminal framework and binds to tubulin, which results in inhibition of tubulin polymerization. We have developed a concise stereoselective synthesis of the indoline spiroaminal framework of neoxaline.

Relative and absolute stereochemistry of quinadoline B, an inhibitor of lipid droplet synthesis in macrophages.

New fungal metabolites, designated quinadolines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from culture broth of Aspergillus sp. FKI-1746, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. The complete relative and absolute stereochemistry of 2 was determined by X-ray crystallography and amino acid analysis using a chiral column. Quinadolines moderately inhibited lipid droplet synthesis in mouse macrophages.

Molecular Insights into the Biosynthesis of Guadinomine: A Type III Secretion System Inhibitor

Guadinomines are a recently discovered family of anti-infective compounds produced by Streptomyces sp. K01-0509 with a novel mode of action. With an IC(50) of 14 nM, guadinomine B is the most potent known inhibitor of the type III secretion system (TTSS) of Gram-negative bacteria. TTSS activity is required for the virulence of many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli , Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Chlamydia spp., Vibrio spp., and Pseudomonas spp. The guadinomine (gdn) biosynthetic gene cluster has been cloned and sequenced and includes 26 open reading frames spanning 51.2 kb. It encodes a chimeric multimodular polyketide synthase, a nonribosomal peptide synthetase, along with enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the unusual aminomalonyl-acyl carrier protein extender unit and the signature carbamoylated cyclic guanidine. Its identity was established by targeted disruption of the gene cluster as well as by heterologous expression and analysis of key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. Identifying the guadinomine gene cluster provides critical insight into the biosynthesis of these scarce but potentially important natural products.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Neoxaline

A first asymmetric total synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of neoxaline has been accomplished through the highly stereoselective introduction of a reverse prenyl group to create a quaternary carbon stereocenter using (-)-3a-hydroxyfuroindoline as a building block, construction of the indoline spiroaminal via cautious stepwise oxidations with cyclizations from the indoline, assembly of (Z)-dehydrohistidine, and photoisomerization of unnatural (Z)-neoxaline to the natural (E)-neoxaline as the key steps.

Total synthesis of citridone A.

The first total synthesis of citridone A has been achieved through regioselective intramolecular iodocyclization and regio- and stereoselective Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling as key reactions.

Actinoallolides A–E, New Anti-trypanosomal Macrolides, Produced by an Endophytic Actinomycete, Actinoallomurus fulvus MK10-036

Five new anti-trypanosomal macrolides, actinoallolides A-E (1-5), were discovered from the cultured broth of Actinoallomurus fulvus MK10-036. The structures of the actinoallolides, including absolute stereochemistry, were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses and a series of chemical derivatization studies. Actinoallolide A showed the most potent and selective in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity without cytotoxicity. A new class of promising lead compounds was identified for the development of drugs for both sleeping sickness and Chagas disease.

New rugulosins, anti-MRSA antibiotics, produced by Penicillium radicum FKI-3765-2.

New rugulosins B (2) and C (3) were isolated together with known rugulosin (renamed rugulosin A in this paper, 1) from whole culture of Penicillium radicum FKI-3765-2, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. Rugulosins A and C were a homodimer of the same anthraquinone moieties, whereas rugulosin B was a heterodimer of analogous anthraquinone moieties. Rugulosins A to C showed antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Janadolide, a Cyclic Polyketide-Peptide Hybrid Possessing a tert-Butyl Group from an Okeania sp. Marine Cyanobacterium.

Janadolide, a new cyclic polyketide-peptide hybrid possessing a tert-butyl group, was isolated from an Okeania sp. marine cyanobacterium. The gross structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configurations of the amino acid moieties were determined by acid hydrolysis and chiral-phase HPLC analyses. The absolute configuration of the two stereogenic centers in the polyketide moiety was elucidated based on a combination of degradation reactions and spectroscopic analyses including the phenyl-glycine methyl ester method. Janadolide showed potent antitrypanosomal activity with an IC50 value of 47 nM without cytotoxicity against human cells at 10 μM.