Polyketid

The ansa-chain of the ansamycins streptovaricins (4), rifamycins (263), geldanamycin (4), and herbimycin (32) has been shown to be polyketide in origin, being made up of propionate and acetate units with the 0-methyl groups coming from methionine. The remaining aromatic C N portion of the ansamacroHdes is derived from 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (264—266) which is formed via shikimate precursors. Based on the precursors of the rifamycins and streptovaricins isolated from mutant bacteria strains, a detailed scheme for the biosynthesis of most of the ansamacroHdes has been proposed (95,263). 

Biosynthetic studies using acetate (Ac), propionate (Pr), and butyrate (Bu) revealed the polyketide nature of aurodox which has the composition Pr(Ac)g for the goldinamine skeleton C-7 to C-25 and the composition Bu(Ac) for the C-27 to C-39 carbon chain of goldinonic acid. In contrast to the methyl branch at C-8, those at C-19 and C-21 are methionine-derived as are all remaining methyl groups (52,53). The biogenetic origin of the pyridone moiety is not clear. 

The overall biosynthetic pathway to the tetracychnes has been reviewed (74). Studies (75—78) utilising labeled acetate and malonate and nmr analysis of the isolated oxytetracycline (2), have demonstrated the exclusive malonate origin of the tetracycline carbon skeleton, the carboxamide substituent, and the folding mode of the polyketide chain. Feeding experiments using [1- 02] acetate and analysis of the nmr isotope shift effects, led to the location of... 

Figure 4 Halogenated terpenoid and polyketide metabolites isolated from red algae in the genera Laureucia and Plocamium...

Role of polyketide synthases in biosynthesis of some heterocycles, in particular macrolides 97CRV2465. 

A reiterative application of a two-carbon elongation reaction of a chiral carbonyl compound (Homer-Emmonds reaction), reduction (DIBAL) of the obtained trans unsaturated ester, asymmetric epoxidation (SAE or MCPBA) of the resulting allylic alcohol, and then C-2 regioselective addition of a cuprate (Me2CuLi) to the corresponding chiral epoxy alcohol has been utilized for the construction of the polypropionate-derived chain ]R-CH(Me)CH(OH)CH(Me)-R ], present as a partial structure in important natural products such as polyether, ansamycin, or macro-lide antibiotics [52]. A seminal application of this procedure is offered by Kishi s synthesis of the C19-C26 polyketide-type aliphatic segment of rifamycin S, starting from aldehyde 105 (Scheme 8.29) [53]. 

Scheme 8.29 Kishi s approach for the construction of the C19-C26 polyketide-type segment of rifamycin S.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been the subject of a number of recent reviews in which their mechanism and scope of action are covered in much detail [1, 6, 10, 11]. The reader is referred to these articles for a more thorough account of the mechanism and reactivity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, while we present a few representative examples of cytochrome P450-catalyzed epoxidation below. The enzymes we chose are all involved in the biosynthesis of polyketide natural products. Polyketides are a large, structurally diverse family of compounds and have provided a wealth of therapeutically useful drugs and drug leads. 

The acetate labeling results clearly demonstrated a polyketide origin for the naphthoate fragment. This resulted in the hypothesis that the first enzyme-free intermediate in azinomycin biosynthesis would be naphthoate 102, with condensation to fonn a polyketone chain, reduction, cyclization, and dehydration/aromati-... 

It is very likely that a similar Type I polyketide synthase constructs the naphthoate fragment of azinomycin B. This will be a very interesting enzyme to study, since it will need to perform an unprecedented three regioselective reduction reactions, as well as controlling the polyketide chain length and directing its cycliza-tion. 

It is likely that the biosynthesis of 113 is directed by a hybrid polyketide syn-thase/nonribosomal peptide synthetase enzyme system, as indicated in Figure 11.19. 

The biosynthesis of maduropeptin has not been studied in detail, but an iterative type I polyketide synthase gene predicted to be responsible for forming the enediyne core structure has been identified [188]. 

These mesylates, in turn, can be converted to enantioenriched allenyltin, zinc, and indium reagents which add to aldehydes with excellent diastereo-and enantioselectivity to afford either syn- or anti-homopropargylic alcohols or allenylcarbinols (eq 2, 3, and 4).3 4 Adducts of this type serve as useful intermediates for the synthesis of polyketide and hydrofuran natural products.5... 

Sheiko SS, Moller M (2001) Hyperbranched Macromolecules Soft Particles with Adjustable Shape and Capability to Persistent Motion. 212 137-175 Shen B (2000) The Biosynthesis of Aromatic Polyketides. 209 1-51 Shinkai S, see James TD (2002) 218 159-200 Shirakawa E, see Hiyama T (2002) 219 61-85 Shogren-Knaak M, see Imperial B (1999) 202 1-38 Sinou D (1999) Metal Catalysis in Water. 206 41-59... 

A considerable number of mycotoxins that show high toxicity to vertebrates and/ or invertebrates are produced by organisms associated with crop plants (Flannigan 1991). There are many known cases of human poisoning caused by such compounds. There are three broad categories of mycotoxins represented here, based on the structures of the intermediates from which these secondary metabolites are derived. They are (1) compounds derived from polyketides, (2) terpenes derived from mevalonic acid, and (3) cyclic peptides and derivatives thereof. 

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