Ulrich Koert

Inhibition of the D-alanine:D-alanyl carrier protein ligase from Bacillus subtilis increases the bacterium's susceptibility to antibiotics that target the cell wall.

The surface charge as well as the electrochemical properties and ligand binding abilities of the Gram‐positive cell wall is controlled by the d‐alanylation of the lipoteichoic acid. The incorporation of d‐Ala into lipoteichoic acid requires the d‐alanine:d‐alanyl carrier protein ligase (DltA) and the carrier protein (DltC). We have heterologously expressed, purified, and assayed the substrate selectivity of the recombinant proteins DltA with its substrate DltC. We found that apo‐DltC is recognized by both endogenous 4′‐phosphopantetheinyl transferases AcpS and Sfp. After the biochemical characterization of DltA and DltC, we designed an inhibitor (d‐alanylacyl‐sulfamoyl‐adenosine), which is able to block the d‐Ala adenylation by DltA at a Ki value of 232 nmin vitro. We also performed in vivo studies and determined a significant inhibition of growth for different Bacillus subtilis strains when the inhibitor is used in combination with vancomycin.

Quantitative surface-enhanced Raman scattering ultradetection of atomic inorganic ions: the case of chloride.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy can be used for the determination and quantification of biologically representative atomic ions. In this work, the detection and quantification of chloride is demonstrated by monitoring the vibrational changes occurring at a specific interface (a Cl-sensitive dye) supported on a silver-coated silica microbead. The engineered particles play a key role in the detection, as they offer a stable substrate to support the dye, with a dense collection of SERS hot spots. These results open a new avenue toward the generation of microsensors for fast ultradetection and quantification of relevant ions inside living organisms such as cells. Additionally, the use of discrete particles rather than rough films, or other conventional SERS supports, will also enable a safe remote interrogation of highly toxic sources in environmental problems or biological fluids.

Ratiometric Optical Sensing of Chloride Ions with Organic Fluorophore–Gold Nanoparticle Hybrids: A Systematic Study of Design Parameters and Surface Charge Effects

Colloidal nanoparticles are often stabilized by high surface charges. These create an electrical potential that may strongly affect the concentration of dissolved ions, which presents a formidable problem for the use of nanoparticles in ion-sensing applications. This effect is investigated systematically with organic fluorophore-gold nanoparticle hybrids, which have a chloride-sensitive fluorophore attached at varying distances from their surface. The distance-dependent fluorescence response is quantitatively assessed using fluorescence spectroscopy.

Stereoselective synthesis of the C18–C28 fragment of apoptolidin

An efficient, stereocontrolled synthesis of the C18–C28 segment of apoptolidin has been achieved. Key steps are a stannous triflate-mediated aldol reaction, the acylation of a Weinreb amide with an E-alkenyl lithium reagent and the dihydroxylation of a C19–C20 double bond.

Quinone–Annonaceous Acetogenins: Synthesis and Complex I Inhibition Studies of a New Class of Natural Product Hybrids

The natural product hybrids quinone-mucocin and quinone- squamocin D were synthesized. In these hybrids, the butenolide unit of the annonaceous acetogenins mucocin and squamocin D is exchanged for the quinone moiety of the natural complex I substrate ubiquinone. For both syntheses, a modular, highly convergent approach was applied. Quinone-mucocin was constructed out of a tetrahydropyran (THP) component 1, a tetrahydrofuran (THF) unit 2, and a quinone precursor 3. A stereoselective, organometallic coupling reaction was chosen for the addition of the THP unit to the rest of the molecule. In the final step, the oxidation to the free quinone was achieved by using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the oxidizing agent. Quinone-squamocin D was assembled in a similar manner, from the chiral side chain bromide 16, the central bis-THF core 17, and the quinone precursor 18. Inhibition of complex I (isolated from bovine heart mitochondria) by the quinone acetogenins and several smaller building blocks was examined; quinone mucocin and quinone-squamocin D act as strong inhibitors of complex I. These results and the data from the smaller substructures indicate that other substructures of the acetogenins besides the butenolide group, such as the polyether component and the lipophilic left-hand side chain, are necessary for the strong binding of the acetogenins to complex I.

Cyclohexyletherδ-Amino Acids: New Leads for Selectivity Filters in Ion Channels

Synthetic ion channels containing δ-amino acids can become cation selective! δ-Amino acids with a cyclohexylether unit were combined with structural motives from gramicidin A and led to channels with a NH4+ /K+ permeability ratio of >10/1. (The current trace for an NH4+ channel is shown.).

Total synthesis of phoslactomycin A.

A convergent total synthesis of the PP2A-inhibitor phoslactomycin A was achieved using a CuTC-mediated coupling of an alkenyl iodide C1-C13 fragment with an C14-C21 alkenyl stannane in the presence of a protected phosphate. Key features for the assembly of the C1-C13 fragment were an asymmetric dihydroxylation, an Evans-Aldol reaction, and a well-balanced protective group strategy. An asymmetric 1,4-addition to cyclohexenone was the key step in the preparation of the C14-C21 fragment.

Synthesis and functional studies of THF–gramicidin hybrid ion channels

THF-gramicidin hybrids 2-4 with the L-THF amino acid 1 in positions 11 and 12 and compounds 5-8 with the D-THF amino acid ent-1 in positions 10 and 11 were synthesized and their ion channel properties were studied by single-channel-current analysis. The replacement of positions 11 and 12 by the L-THF amino acid 1 gave a strongly reduced channel performance. In contrast, replacement of positions 10 and 11 by the D-THF amino acid ent-1 gave rise to new and interesting channel properties. For the permeability ratios, the ion selectivity shifts from Eisenman I towards Eisenman III selectivity and the channels display ms-dynamics. Most remarkable is the asymmetric compound 8, which inserts selectively into a DPhPC membrane and displays voltage-directed gating dynamics.

A Convergent Total Synthesis of (−)‐Mucocin: An Acetogenin from Annonaceae

A total synthesis of the Annonaceous acetogenin mucocin has been accomplished. The synthesis follows a convergent strategy, wherein at a very late stage the left part of the molecule is connected with the right part. The key reaction is the stereocontrolled addition of an organomagnesium compound 2 to the aldehyde 3. The THP ring of mucocin is build by a 6-endo epoxide cyclization of an epoxyacetonide precursor (16 --> 17). The new modular synthetic approach developed herein should be useful for the synthesis of other related natural products as well as pharmacologically interesting analogues.

Flexibility of the N-Terminal mVDAC1 Segment Controls the Channel’s Gating Behavior

Since the solution of the molecular structures of members of the voltage dependent anion channels (VDACs), the N-terminal α-helix has been the main focus of attention, since its strategic location, in combination with its putative conformational flexibility, could define or control the channel’s gating characteristics. Through engineering of two double-cysteine mVDAC1 variants we achieved fixing of the N-terminal segment at the bottom and midpoint of the pore. Whilst cross-linking at the midpoint resulted in the channel remaining constitutively open, cross-linking at the base resulted in an “asymmetric” gating behavior, with closure only at one electric field´s orientation depending on the channel’s orientation in the lipid bilayer. Additionally, and while the native channel adopts several well-defined closed states (S1 and S2), the cross-linked variants showed upon closure a clear preference for the S2 state. With native-channel characteristics restored following reduction of the cysteines, it is evident that the conformational flexibility of the N-terminal segment plays indeed a major part in the control of the channel’s gating behavior.