The effects of isolated N-methylated residues on the conformational characteristics of polypeptides

Conformational energies have been estimated for the tripeptide fragments L -Ala-N-methyl-L -Ala-L -Ala, L -Ala-L -Ala-N-methyl-L -Ala, L -Ala-Sar-L -Ala, and L -Ala-Gly-N-methyl-L -Ala. The peptide bonds connecting L -Ala and Gly with N-methyl-L -Ala and L -Ala with Sar were permitted to adopt the planar cis as well as the usual trans conformation. Contour maps of the conformational energies of the central residue in these tripeptide fragments are presented and compared to the conformational energy maps previously calculated for unmethylated L -Ala and Gly surrounded by residues which are also unmethylated. In generl it is observed that L -Ala and Gly residues that are either N-methylated in their conformational freedom relative to the same residues in an unmethylated polypeptide chain.     

Circular dichroism and conformational analysis of the membrane-modifying peptide -N-t-Boc-(Aib-L-Ala)5-Gly-Ala-Aib-Pro-Ala-Aib-Aib-Glu-(OBzl)-Gln-OMe with respect to alamethicin

The conformational analysis of the CD spectrum is reported for the synthetic and membrane-modifying nonadecapeptide analog of alamethicin N-t-Boc-(Aib-L -Ala)₅-Gly-Ala-Aib-Pro-Ala-Aib-Aib-Glu(OBzl)- Gln-OMe. The CD data are evaluated according to three different methods and are discussed with respect to those obtained from natural alamethicin and suitable models such as N-t-Boc-(Aib-L -Ala)₇-OPOE, fragments of the synthetic nonadecapeptide, and the hexadecapeptide N-t-Boc-(Aib-L -Ala)₅-Pro-Ala-Aib-Aib-Glu(OBzl)-Gln-OMe. The synthetic nonadecapeptide with the longer helical region exhibits membrane activities comparable to those of alamethicin, whereas the hexadecapeptide with the shorter helix is inactive.     

Antibodies Specific for α-N-Acetyl-β-Endorphins: Radioimmunoassays and Detection of Acetylated β-Endorphins in Pituitary Extracts

Abstract: Antibodies specific for α-N-acetyl-β-endorphins have been prepared by injecting into rabbits either α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-31) or [α-N-acetyl, ε-acetyl-Lys⁹]-β-endorphin(1-9) linked by carbodiimide to bovine thyroglobulin. Both antisera were used to develop specific radioimmunoassays for α-N-acetyl-β-endorphins. The radioimmunoassays were used to measure α-N-acetylated β-endorphins in extracts of pituitary regions from different species. By comparison of the amounts of total β-endorphin and α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin immunoreactivity, a relative ratio of β-endorphin acetylation was obtained. The relative acetylation of β-endorphin was highest in rat posterior-intermediate lobe extracts (>90%). Beef and monkey intermediate lobes had a lower degree of acetylation (53 and 31%, respectively). Anterior lobe extracts from all three species contained low amounts of acetylated β-endorphin. Human pituitary extracts did not contain acetylated β-endorphins. By the use of cation exchange and high performance liquid chromatography, six different acetylated derivatives and fragments of β-endorphin were resolved in extracts of rat posterior-intermediate pituitaries. Two of these peptides corresponded to α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-31) and -(1-27). One acetylated β-endorphin fragment had the same size as α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-27) but was eluted earlier from the cation exchange column. This peptide had full cross-reactivity with antibodies directed against the middle and amino-terminal parts of β-endorphin. Compared with α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-27), it had much less cross-reactivity with antibodies directed against the COOH-terminal part of β-endorphin, suggesting that it was a COOH-terminally modified derivative of β-endorphin(1-27). The remaining N-acetylated β-endorphin derivatives were eluted even earlier from the cation exchange column. The majority of these fragments were slightly larger in size than y-endorphin, i.e., β-endorphin(1-17), but smaller than β-endorphin(1-27). They had full cross-reactivity in an amino-terminally directed β-endorphin radioimmunoassay and a greatly diminished cross-reactivity with antibodies to the middle region of β-endorphin.     

A Novel Method for the Synthesis of ddA and F-ddA Via Regioselective 2′-O-Deacetylation of 9-(2,5-DI-O-Acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine

Abstract

Regioselective 2′-O-deacetylation of 9-(2,5-di-O-acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine (1) is achieved by treatment of 1 with β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) / aq. NaHCO₃ or N₂H₄·H₂O / EtOH. The 9-(5-O-Acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-β-D-xylo-furanosyl)adenine (2) obtained is a common intermediate for the synthesis of 2′,3′-dideoxy-adenosine (ddA) (7) and 9-(2-fluoro-2,3-dideoxy-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)-adenine (F-ddA) (9).     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected l-threo-β-ethoxyasparagine

Orthogonally protected l-threo-β-ethoxyasparagine (Fmoc-EtOAsn(Trt)-OH, 1) was synthesized from diethyl (2S,3S)-2-azido-3-hydroxysuccinate 2 in eight steps as a building block for solid-phase peptide synthesis. The starting material is easily available in multi-gram scale from d-diethyltartrate. The transformation steps reported here are robust and scalable. Thus, a significant amount of 1 (1.8 g) was obtained in 21% overall yield. The synthesis reported is also expected to be useful for the preparation of other O-substituted l-threo-β-hydroxyasparagine derivatives.     

15N-nmr spectroscopy. 33. Assignments of isotactic and syndiotactic sequences in poly(D,L-amino acids)

¹⁵N-enriched (D ,L -Leu)_n, (γ-OMe-D ,L -Glu)_n, (D ,L -Val)_n, and (D ,L -Phe)_n were prepared, 40.55-MHz ¹⁵N-nmr spectra were measured in various solvents. The signal patterns depend strongly on the nature of the solvent, yet in most cases at least four signals are resolved, representing the four enantiomeric pairs of triads L -L -L (D -D -D ), L -D -L (D -L -D ), L -L -D (D -D -L ), and D -L -L (L -D -D ). Numerous copolypeptides of the general structure (A)_n-B*-(A)_m (the asterisk denotes 40–50% ¹⁵N enrichment) were synthesized and measured as models for syndiotactic sequences in the spectra of poly(D ,L -amino acids). In this way unambiguous assignments for both isotactic and syndiotactic trials were obtained. A spectroscopic rule was established: “isotactic sequences absorb downfield of syndiotactic ones.” Furthermore, the spectra of various types of stereocopolypeptides such as (L -Leu/L -Val)_n and (L -Leu/D -Val)_n were investigated, including the ternary systems (L -Leu/L -Ala/D -Ala)_n (L -Leu/L -Ala/Gly)_n, (L -Leu/D -Ala/Gly)_n, (L -Val/L -Ala/Gly)_n, and (L -Val/D -Ala/Gly)_n. All copolymerization of D - and L -amino acid NCAs investigated in this work showed a low degree of stereoselectivity.     

Facile Synthesis of 4-O-β-N-Acetylchitooligosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone Based on the Transformation of Chitooligosaccharide and Its Suppressive Effects against the Furylfuramide-Induced SOS Response

A facile synthesis method is described for transforming the reducing-end residue of chitooligosaccharides (DP 2–4) into lactone. The desired 4-O-β-N-acetylchitooligosyl lactones (GN_nL) were conveniently prepared from chitooligosaccharides by consecutive dehydration and oxidation reactions to afford 4-O-β-tri-N-acetylchitotriosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GN₃L), 4-O-β-di-N-acetylchitobiosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GN₂L), and 4-O-β-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GNL). The resulting lactone derivatives exhibited considerable suppression (42.6–54.3% at a concentration of 400 µM) in umu gene expression of the SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 against the mutagen, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamido (AF-2). Lactonization of the chitooligosaccharides was found to be essential for their suppression of the SOS-inducing activity.     

Threonine aldolases—screening, properties and applications in the synthesis of non-proteinogenic β-hydroxy-α-amino acids

Threonine aldolases (TAs) constitute a powerful tool for catalyzing carbon–carbon bond formations in synthetic organic chemistry, thus enabling an enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids. Starting from the achiral precursors glycine and an aldehyde, two new stereogenic centres are formed in this catalytic step. The resulting chiral β-hydroxy-α-amino acid products are important precursors for pharmaceuticals such as thiamphenicol, a l-threo-phenylserine derivative or l-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine. TAs are pyridoxal-5-phosphate-dependent enzymes, which, in nature, catalyze the cleavage of l-threonine or l-allo-threonine to glycine and acetaldehyde in a glycine biosynthetic pathway. TAs from a broad number of species of bacteria and fungi have been isolated and characterised as biocatalysts for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids. In this review, screening methods to obtain novel TAs, their biological function, biochemical characterisation and preparative biotransformations with TAs are described.     

Synthesis of New 5″-Sulfonylamido Derivatives of 3″-Azido-3″-Deoxythymidine (AZT)

Abstract

A series of 5′-N-methanesulfonyl derivatives of 3′-azido-5′-(alkylamino)-3′,5′-dideoxythymidine was synthesised. The first step of the synthesis involved the reaction of 1-(2,5-dideoxy-5-O-tosyl-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine 1 with an appropriate amine to give 1-[5-(alkylamino)-2,5-dideoxy-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymines 2a-e and 1-(2,5-dideoxy-β-threo-pent-4-enofuranosyl)thymine 3 as a by-product. Compounds 2a-e were treated with an excess of methanesulfonyl chloride to yield intermediates 1-[5-(dimethylamino)-3-O-methanesulfonyl-2,3,5-trideoxy-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl]-thymine 4a and 1-[5-(N-alkyl-N-methanesulfonyl)-3-O-methanesulfonyl-2,3,5-trideoxy-β-D-threo-penfuranosyl]thymines 4b-e. The reaction of 4a-e with lithium azide in dimethyl-formamide afforded the final compounds 1-[3-azido-5-(N-methyl-N-methanesulfonyl)-2,3,5-trideoxy-β-D-erythro-penofuranosyl]thymine 5a and 1-[3-azido-5-(N-alkyl-N-methanesulfonyl)-2,3,5-trideoxy-β-D-erythro-penofuranosyl]thymines 5b-e. The independent synthesis of 4′,5′-unsaturated product 3 was also described.     

Racemization of l-Proline during Trifluoroacetylation Detection of Unexpected Stereoisomers in Trifluoroacetylprolyl-valine t-Butyl Ester

The genome sequencing project on alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125 revealed a putative endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (Endo-BH), which consists of a signal peptide of 24 amino acids, a catalytic region of 634 amino acids exhibiting 50.1% identity with the endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Arthrobacter protophormiae (Endo-A), and a C-terminal tail of 220 amino acids. Transformed Escherichia coli cells carrying the Endo-BH gene exhibited endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity. Recombinant Endo-BH hydrolyzed high-mannose type oligosaccharides and hybrid type oligosaccharides, and showed transglycosylation activity. On deletion of 219 C-terminal amino acid residues of Endo-BH, the wild type level of activity was retained, whereas with deletions of the Endo-A homolog domain, the proteins were expressed as inclusion bodies and these activities were reduced. These results suggest that the enzymatic properties of Endo-BH are similar to those of Endo-A, and that the C-terminal tail does not affect the enzyme activity. Although the C-terminal tail region is not essential for enzyme activity, the sequence is also conserved among endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases of various origins.     

Solvent and side-chain contributions to the two-cis ⇄ all-trans equilibria of cyclic hexapeptides,cyclo(Xxx-Pro-D-Yyy)2

Cyclic hexapeptides of the type cyclo(L -Xxx-L -Pro-D -Yyy)₂ or cyclo(L -Xxx-L -Pro-Gly)₂ exist in solution predominantly in two forms of C₂ average symmetry, one with all-trans peptide bonds and generally well-established conformation, and another with both Xxx-Pro peptide bonds cis. We have been measuring the thermodynamic parameters of this equilibrium using carbon and proton nmr spectroscopy. Data have been obtained for peptides in which Yyy = Gly, D -Ala, or D -Phe, and Xxx = Gly, L -Ala, L -Leu, and L -Val. In a given solvent, stability of the all-trans form decreases (ΔG⁰ increases) as Xxx is changed through the series Gly, L -Ala-, L -Leu, and L -Val, consistent with expected increasing repulsion between the Xxx side chain and the proline δ methylene across the trnas Xxx-Pro bond. Also, for a given set of side chains, the stability of the all-trnas form increases as the polarity of the solvent decreases, consistent with models in which all C?O and N? H groups are accessible for solvation in the two-cis form, but two C?O and two N? H groups are somewhat sequestered in the all-trans form. With the available data it is not possible to identify pure intramolecular (solvent-independent) or pure peptide-bond solvation (side chain-independent) terms in ΔH° or ΔS°, although trends are discernible.     

Proton magnetic resonance studies on dermorphin and its peptide fragments

Dermorphin (Tyr? D-Ala? Phe? Gly? Tyr? Pro? Ser? NH₂), a potent natural peptide opioid, its synthetic L-Ala² analog, and all the N fragments from the tripeptide (Tyr? D -Ala? Phe? NH₂) to the parent hexapeptide amide were characterized for the first time by means of proton nmr spectroscopy at 11.74 T. Assignments of most protons of dermorphin were facilitated by the study of the N-terminal fragments. Comparison of spectroscopic parameters with relative pharmacological activity is proposed as a possible means of studying flexible agonists in solution.     

Cardiovascular protective flavonolignans and flavonoids from Calamus quiquesetinervius

Tricin-type flavonolignans, (2S)-dihydrotricin 4′-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether, (2S)-dihydrotricin 4′-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether, (2S)-dihydrotricin 4′-O-(threo-β-4-hydroxyphenylglyceryl) ether, tricin 4′-O-(erythro-β-4-hydroxyphenylglyceryl) ether, tricin 4′-O-(threo-β-4-hydroxylphenylglyceryl) ether, and (2S)-dihydrotricin 4′-O-(β-6′′-methoxy-4′′-oxo-chroman-3′′-yloxy) ether namely calquiquelignan A–F, respectively, were isolated and characterized from the EtOAc extract of Calamus quiquesetinervius. Additionally, six known phenolic compounds, including dihydrotricin, tricin, salcolin A, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, (2S, 3S)-trans-dihydrokapempferol and (2S)-naringenin, were also obtained and identified from the extract. Structures of the flavonolignans were assigned based on spectroscopic analyses that included 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, such as HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY. Bioassay results showed that calquiquelignan A, dihydrotricin and (2S)-naringenin exhibited significant vasodilatory potencies, as indicated by 60.3%, 80.3% and 60.9% relaxations, respectively, at 100 μM. Salcolin A showed potent platelet aggregation inhibition, compared with aspirin. Most of the tricin-type derivatives (calquiquelignan A–B, dihydrotricin and tricin) also exhibited more potent hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging activity than trolox as characterized by the ultraweak chemiluminescence assay.     

Polydeoxyaminohexopyranosylnucleosides. Synthesis of 1-(2,3,4-Trideoxy-3-nitro-β-D-erythro- and threo-hexopyranosyl)-uracils from Uridine

Abstract

The first synthesis of nitro-multideoxy-sugar containing nucleosides was achieved. 1-(4,6-O-Benzylidene-3-deoxy-3-nitro-β-D-glucopyranosyl)uracil (3) was converted in 75% yield into 1-(4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-nitro-arabinohexopyranosyl)uracil (7) by acetylation followed by NaBH₄ reduction in methanol. De-O-benzylidenation with CF₃CO₂H afforded crystalline 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-nitro-β-D-arabinohexopyranosyl)uracil (S) was obtained in 87% yield. Raney Ni reduction of 8 afforded the corresponding 3′-amino-nucleoside 9. Acetylation of 8 followed by NaBH₄ treatment afforded an 8:1 mixture from which 1-(2,3,4-trideoxy-3-nitro-β-D-threohexopyranosyl)-uracil (14) was obtained in pure crystalline form. After Raney Ni reduction of the mixture, 1-(3-amino-2,3,4-trideoxy-β-d-threo-hexopyranosyl)uracil (16) and its erythro epimer 21 were isolated. 1-(4,6-O-Benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-nitro-β-d-lyxohexopyranosyl)uracil (24) was prepared in 72% yield from 1-(4,6-O-benzylidene-3-deoxy-3-nitro-β-d-galactopyranosyl)uracil (4) by acetylation and subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. De-O-benzylid-enation of 23 afforded 1-(2,3,4-trideoxy-3-nitro-β-d-lyxohexopyranosyl)uracil (25) in 83% yield. Schmidt-Rutz reaction of 25 followed by NaBH₄ reduction afforded a mixture of threo and elythro isomers of 2′,3′,4′-trideoxy-3′-nitro-hexopyranosyluracil, from which pure 16 and 21 were obtained.

     

The influence of asymmetric carbon atoms of the side chains on the conformational properties of polypeptides: Comparison of diastereomeric homooligopeptides of L-isoleucine and D-alloisoleucine

The conventionally protected oligopeptides of the two homologous series Boc-(L -Ile)_n-OMe and Boc-(D -aIle)_n-OMe (n = 2–6) were synthesized in a standard stepwise fashion and their uv and CD spectra in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and solid-state ir spectra were investigated. In addition, two oligomeric products derived from the NCAs of L -isoleucine and of D -allo-isoleucine and having a DP of 20 and 12, respectively, were studied in the solid state by x-ray and ir. No substantial differences between the properties of the diastereomeric oligomers in the solid state were noticed, a β-structure being very likely at least for the Boc-protected hexapeptides and the higher oligomers. In contrast, differences were observed between the spectroscopic properties of the diastereomeric oligopeptides, and especially of the hexapeptides, in trifluoroethanol solution. The different properties of the hexapeptides in solution were related to the existence, in the case of Boc-(L -Ile)₆-OMe, of soluble molecular aggregates in which the peptide chains assume the β-conformation. These results provide an additional example of the influence of the configuration of asymmetric carbon atoms of the side chains on the conformational properties of peptide molecules in solution.     

Unsaturated sugars. I. Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid to methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-beta-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside

Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (1) with N,N-dimethylformamide dineopentyl acetal in N,N-dimethylformamide gave methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (3). Debenzylation of 3 was effected with sodium in liquid ammonia to give methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (4). Hydrogenation of 3 catalyzed by palladium-on-barium sulfate afforded methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (5), whereas hydrogenation of 3 over palladium-on-carbon gave methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (6). An improved preparation of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside is also described.     

Structural Determination of Monosialyl Trisaccharides Obtained From Caprine Colostrum

Acidic oligosaccharides were separated by dialysis, ion-exchange, preparative paper and gel chromatography from caprine colostrum. Four sialyl trisaccharides were characterized by ¹H-NMR spectrometry as follows: α-N-acetylneuraminyl-(2,6)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1,4)-2-N-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose (Neu5Ac α 2-6Gal β 1-4GlcNAc), α-N-acetylneuraminyl-(2,3)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1,4)-d-glucopyranose (Neu5Ac α 2-3Gal β-1-4Glc), α-N-acetylneuraminyl-(2,6)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1,4)-d-glucopyranose (Neu5Ac α 2-6Gal β 1-4Glc) and α-N-glycolylneuraminyl-(2,6)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1,4)-d-glucopyranose (Neu5Gc α 2-6Gal β 1-4Glc).     

Molecular Species of Ceramide and Mono-, Di-, Tri-, and Tetraglycosylceramide in Bran and Endosperm of Rice Grains

Ceramide and mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraglycosylceramide were isolated from the bran and endosperm of rice grains and chemically characterized. The detailed compositions of free ceramide were somewhat different between the bran and endosperm, but those of the ceramide moiety in glycosylceramides were substantially the same. There was a tendency in all the sphingolipid molecules in rice grains for hydroxy acids with C₂₀ to be combined largely with the dihydroxy bases while hydroxy acids with C_24< combined mainly with the trihydroxy bases. Representative molecular species of the sphingolipid classes were concluded to be as follows: for ceramide N-2′-hydroxylignoceroyl-4-hydroxysphinganine, for monoglycosylceramide l-O-β-glucosyl-N-2′-hydroxyarachidoyl-4,8-sphingadienine, for diglycosylceramide 1-O-[β-mannosyl(1→-4)-O-β-glucosyl]- and 1-O-[β-glucosyl(1→4)-O-β-glucosyl]-N-2′-hydroxylignoceroyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine, for triglycosylceramide l-O-[β-mannosyl(1→4)-O-β-mannosyl(l→4)-O-β-glucosyl]- and l-O-[β-glucosyl(l→4)-O-β-mannosyl(1→4)-O-β-glucosyl]-N-2′-hydroxylignoceroyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine, and for tetraglycosylceramide 1-0-[β-mannosyl(l→4)-O-β-mannosyl (1→4)-O-β-mannosyl(1→4)-O-β-glucosyl]- and l-O-[β-glucosyl(1→4)-O-β-mannosyl(l→4)-O-β-mannosyl(1β4)-O-β-glucosyl]-N-2′-hydroxylignoceroyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine.     

Detection of Polygalacturonase in Kiwifruit during Ripening

Oligosaccharides produced during the course of the hydrolysis of 25% N-acetylated chitosan by Streptomyces griseus chitinase were fractionated by CM-Sephadex C-25 and Toyopearl HW-40F column chromatographies. Sugar compositions and sequences of main oligosaccharides were identified by N-acetylation, exo-splitting with β-GlcNAcase and β-GlcNase, and nitrous acid degradation. In addition to N-acetylated saccharides, GlcNAc, (GlcNAc)₂, and (GlcNAc)₃, hetero-chitooligosaccharides such as GlcN · GlcNAc, GlcN · GlcNAc · GlcNAc, GlcN · GlcN · GlcNAc, GlcN · GlcNAc · GlcNAc · GlcNAc, GlcNAc · GlcN · GlcNAc · GlcNAc, GlcN · GlcNAc · GlcN · GlcNAc, and GlcN · GlcN · GlcNAc · GlcNAc were identified. These results indicate that Streptomyces griseus chitinase specifically cleaves the N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidic linkages in partially N-acetylated chitosan.     

Ornibactins—a new family of siderophores from Pseudomonas

Novel linear hydroxamate/hydroxycarboxylate siderophores from strains of Pseudomonas cepacia were isolated and named ornibactins. The ornibactins represent modified tetrapeptide siderophores, possessing the sequence l-Orn¹(N -OH, N -acyl)-d-threo-Asp(-OH)-l-Ser-l-Orn⁴(N -OH, N -formyl)-1,4-diaminobutane. The N -acyl groups of Orn¹(N -OH, N -acyl) may vary and represent the three acids 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid and 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid, leading to a mixture of three different ornibactins, designated according to their acyl chain length as ornibactin-C4, ornibactin-C6 and ornibactin-C8. Each of the siderophores is accompanied by a small amount of a more hydrophilic component with a 16 a.m.u. higher mass. The structure elucidation was based on results from gas chromatography amino acid analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.