Glucans, synthesis inhibition

Murata M, Nakajima Y and Homma S (1995) Inhibition of cariogenic glucan synthesis by dark beer. Lebensm Wiss Technol 28, 201-207. 

Kimura, T., Kitamoto, N., Kito, Y., Iimura, Y., Shirai, T., Komiyama, T., Furuichi, Y., Sakka, K., and Ohmiya, K. (1997). A novel yeast gene, RHK1, is involved in the synthesis of the cell wall receptor for the HM-1 killer toxin that inhibits beta-1,3-glucan synthesis. Mol. Gen. Genet. 254, 139-147. 

Inhibitors of fungal glucan synthesis are of microbial origin, produced by Strep-tomyces hygroscopicus var. limoneus (HI) and of S. cacaoi var. asoensis (H2) (Table 12.13) [19]. Validamycin is a specific compound for the control of rice sheath blight, whereas polyoxins inhibit a target site that, potentially, is present in all As-comycetes and Basidiomycetes. Nevertheless, the market importance of polyoxins remains limited. 

Papulacandin B, an antibiotic produced by the deuteromycete Papularia sphaerosperma, inhibits the growth of yeasts, but has no effect on other fungi, bacteria, or protozoa.The mode of action involves the inhibition of synthesis of alkali-insoluble jS-D-glucan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans in sphaeroplasts and causes lysis of cells by osmotic rupture.Echinocandin B and a structurally related antibiotic aculeacin A also inhibit j3-D-glucan synthesis in yeast, possibly in a similar manner.Papulacandin B has been shown to inhibit the transfer of D-glucose from UDP-D-glucose, but not D-mannose from GDP-D-mannose, into dolichyl phosphate. 

In a model experiment, glucoamylase (ex Rhizopus niveus) was shown to inhibit a-D-glucan synthesis as catalysed by potato phosphorylase (see p. 498).29 ... 

Methanohc extract markedly inhibited water-insoluble glucan synthesis (an initial step in tooth decay) by the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans the active principles were found to be oleanolic acid (see also Ugustrum) and ursohc acid. Common jujube has no significant toxic effects on experimental animals. ... 

Isothiocyanate has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the sucrose dependent adherence by growing cells of mutans streptococci. In addition, the anticaries effect of isothiocyanate was confirmed by in vivo tests using rats. The anticaries mechanism of isothiocyemate seems to be an antibacterial effect rather than the inhibition of enzymatic glucan synthesis. The anticaries mechanism by isothiocyanate is considered to be opposite that of oolong tea extract. 

Dichlobenil was reported to be more than 100 times more inhibitory than coumarin toward cellulose biosynthesis in two further cell wall synthesizing systems. In cotton fibers growing from in vitro cultured ovules, dichlobenil at a concentration of 10 fiM caused 80% inhibition of cellulose biosynthesis within 2-3 h the inhibition was reversed by removal of the herbicide.Micromolar concentrations were effective within 10 min of incubation, indicating that cellulose biosynthesis is a likely primary target for this herbicide. The action of dichlobenil is more specific for the )8-(1 — 4)-glucan synthesis of cellulose rather than noncellulosic )8-(l — 3)-glucan synthesis, which is less sensitive. In tobacco cells, specific inhibition of cellulose biosynthesis was apparent at 0.5-5.0/iM dichlobenil however, no inhibition of in u/tro j3-glucan synthesis in particulate membrane... 

Echinocandins (i.e. caspofungin), semisynthetic lipo-peptides, inhibits the synthesis of (3-(l,3)-D-glucan, an... 

Pharmacology Micafungin is a semisynthetic lipopeptide (echinocandin) synthesized by a chemical modification of a fermentation product of Coleophoma empetri F-11899. Micafungin inhibits the synthesis of 1,3- -D-glucan, an essential component of fungal cell walls, which is not present in mammalian cells. Pharmacokinetics ... 

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