Metabolism of naphthalene by the biphenyl-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas paucimobilis Q1

Pseudomonas paucimobilis Q1 originally isolated as biphenyl degrading organism (Furukawa et al. 1983), was shown to grow with naphthalene. After growth with biphenyl or naphthalene the strain synthesized the same enzyme for the ring cleavage of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl or 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. The enzyme, although characterized as 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase (Taira et al. 1988), exhibited considerably higher relative activity with 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. These results demonstrate that this enzyme can function both in the naphthalene and biphenyl degradative pathway.Abbreviations DHBP dihydroxybiphenyl - DHBPDO 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase - DHDHNDH 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene dehydrogenase - DHN 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene - DHNDO 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase - HBP cis-2-hydroxybenzalpyruvate - HOPDA 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate - PCB polychlorinated biphenyl - 2NS naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid     

A high yield optimized method for the production of acylated ACPs enabling the analysis of enzymes involved in P. falciparum fatty acid biosynthesis

The natural substrates of the enzymes involved in type-II fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS-II) are acylated acyl carrier proteins (acyl-ACPs). The state of the art method to produce acyl-ACPs involves the transfer of a phosphopantetheine moiety from CoA to apo-ACP by E. coli holo-ACP synthase (EcACPS), yielding holo-ACP which subsequently becomes thioesterified with free fatty acids by the E. coli acyl-ACP synthase (EcAAS). Alternatively, acyl-ACPs can be synthesized by direct transfer of acylated phosphopantetheine moieties from acyl-CoA to apo-ACP by means of EcACPS. The need for native substrates to characterize the FAS-II enzymes of P. falciparum prompted us to investigate the potential and limit of the two methods to efficiently acylate P. falciparum ACP (PfACP) with respect to chain length and β-modification and in preparative amounts. The EcAAS activity is found to be independent from the oxidation state at the β-position and accepts fatty acids as substrates with chain lengths starting from C8 to C20, whereas EcACPS accepts very efficiently acyl-CoAs with chain lengths up to C16, and with decreasing activity also longer chains (C18 to C20). Methods were developed to synthesize and purify preparative amounts of high quality natural substrates that are fully functional for the enzymes of the P. falciparum FAS-II system.     

Synthesis of 2-arylbenzothiazole derivatives and their application in bacterial detection

A series of 2-arylbenzothiazole derivatives have been prepared as fluorogenic enzyme substrates in order to detect aminopeptidase, esterase, phosphatase and β-galactosidase activity in clinically important Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Substrates were incorporated into an agar-based culture medium and this allowed growth of intensely fluorescent bacterial colonies based on hydrolysis by specific enzymes. Substrate 20 targeted l-alanine aminopeptidase activity and was hydrolysed exclusively by a range of Gram-negative bacteria and inhibited the growth of a range of Gram-positive bacteria. Substrate 19a targeted β-alanyl aminopeptidase activity and generated fluorescent colonies of selected Gram-negative species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Substrate 21b targeted C8-esterase activity and resulted in strongly fluorescent colonies of selected species known to harbour such enzyme activity (e.g., Salmonella and Pseudomonas). Most Gram-negative species produced colonies with an intense blue fluorescence due to hydrolysis of phosphatase substrates 24a–c and substrate 24c was also hydrolysed by strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 26b and 26c targeted β-galactosidase activity and generated strongly fluorescent colonies with coliform bacteria that produced this enzyme (e.g., Escherichia coli).     

1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-Melanin Biosynthesis Inhibitors Increase Erythritol Production in Torula corallina, and DHN-Melanin Inhibits Erythrose Reductase

The yeast Torula corallina is a strong erythritol producer that is used in the industrial production of erythritol. However, melanin accumulation during culture represents a serious problem for the purification of erythritol from the fermentation broth. Melanin biosynthesis inhibitors such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin inhibitors were added to the T. corallina cultures. Only the DHN-melanin inhibitors showed an effect on melanin production, which suggests that the melanin formed during the culturing of T. corallina is derived from DHN. This finding was confirmed by the detection of a shunt product of the pentaketide pathway, flaviolin, and elemental analysis. Among the DHN-melanin inhibitors, tricyclazole was the most effective. Supplementation with tricyclazole enhanced the production of erythritol while significantly inhibiting the production of DHN-melanin and DHN-melanin biosynthetic enzymes, such as trihydroxynaphthalene reductase. The erythrose reductase from T. corallina was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Purified erythrose reductase was significantly inhibited in vitro in a noncompetitive manner by elevated levels of DHN-melanin. In contrast, the level of erythrose reductase activity was unaffected by increasing concentrations of tricyclazole. These results suggest that supplemental tricyclazole reduces the production of DHN-melanin, which may lead to a reduction in the inhibition of erythrose reductase and a higher yield of erythritol. This is the first report to demonstrate that melanin biosynthesis inhibitors increase the production of a sugar alcohol in T. corallina.     

Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Metabolites by Naphthalene-Catabolizing Enzymes

The ability of the dehydrogenase and ring cleavage dioxygenase of the naphthalene degradation pathway to transform 3,4-dihydroxylated biphenyl metabolites was investigated. 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dehydrogenase was expressed as a histidine-tagged protein. The purified enzyme transformed 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl, and 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl (3,4-DHB), and 3,4-dihydroxy-2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3,4-DH-2,2′,5,5′-TCB), respectively. Our data also suggested that purified 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase catalyzed the meta cleavage of 3,4-DHB in both the 2,3 and 4,5 positions. This enzyme cleaved 3,4-DH-2,2′,5,5′-TCB and 3,4-DHB at similar rates. These results demonstrate the utility of the naphthalene catabolic enzymes in expanding the ability of the bph pathway to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls.     

New developments in our understanding of the β-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases

The β-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases are a structurally conserved family of enzymes that catalyze the NAD⁺ or NADP⁺-dependent oxidation of specific β-hydroxyacid substrates like β-hydroxyisobutyrate. These enzymes share distinct domains of amino acid sequence homology, most of which now have assigned putative functions. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and β-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase, the most well-characterized members, both appear to be readily inactivated by chemical modifiers of lysine residues, such as 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS). Peptide mapping by ESI-LCMS showed that inactivation of β-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase with TNBS occurs with the labeling of a single lysine residue, K248. This lysine residue is completely conserved in all family members and may have structural importance relating to cofactor binding. The structural framework of the β-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase family is shared by many bacterial homologues. One such homologue from E. coli has been cloned and expressed as recombinant protein. This protein was found to have enzymatic activity characteristic of tartronate semialdehyde reductase, an enzyme required for bacterial biosynthesis of d-glycerate. A homologue from H. influenzae was also cloned and expressed as recombinant protein. This protein was active in the oxidation of d-glycerate, but showed approximately ten-fold higher activity with four carbon substrates like β-d-hydroxybutyrate and d-threonine. This enzyme might function in H. influenzae, and other species, in the utilization of polyhydroxybutyrates, an energy storage form specific to bacteria. Cloning and characterization of these bacterial β-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases extends our knowledge of this enzyme family.     

Inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase by β-carboline and indole derivatives

β-Carboline derivatives inhibited both indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activities from various sources. Among them, norharman is most potent for both enzymes from mammalian sources. Kinetic studies revealed that norharman is uncompetitive (K_i = 0.12 mm) with l-tryptophan for rabbit intestinal indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, and linearly competitive (K_i = 0.29 mm) with l-tryptophan for mouse liver tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase. In addition, some β-carbolines selectively inhibited one enzyme or the other. Pseudomonad tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase was inhibited by a different spectrum of β-carbolines. Such a selective inhibition by the structure of substrate analogs is more evident by the use of indole derivatives. Indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile and indole-3-acrylic acid exhibited a potent inhibition for mammalian tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, while they moderately inhibited the pseudomonad enzyme. However, they showed no inhibition for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. These results suggest the difference of the structures of the active sites among these enzymes from various sources.     

Metabolism of Carbaryl via 1,2-Dihydroxynaphthalene by Soil Isolates Pseudomonas sp. Strains C4, C5, and C6

Pseudomonas sp. strains C4, C5, and C6 utilize carbaryl as the sole source of carbon and energy. Identification of 1-naphthol, salicylate, and gentisate in the spent media; whole-cell O₂ uptake on 1-naphthol, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, salicylaldehyde, salicylate, and gentisate; and detection of key enzymes, viz, carbaryl hydrolase, 1-naphthol hydroxylase, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase, and gentisate dioxygenase, in the cell extract suggest that carbaryl is metabolized via 1-naphthol, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, and gentisate. Here, we demonstrate 1-naphthol hydroxylase and 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase activities in the cell extracts of carbaryl-grown cells. 1-Naphthol hydroxylase is present in the membrane-free cytosolic fraction, requires NAD(P)H and flavin adenine dinucleotide, and has optimum activity in the pH range 7.5 to 8.0. Carbaryl-degrading enzymes are inducible, and maximum induction was observed with carbaryl. Based on these results, the proposed metabolic pathway is carbaryl → 1-naphthol → 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene → salicylaldehyde → salicylate → gentisate → maleylpyruvate.     

Characterization of the Neurospora crassa DHN melanin biosynthetic pathway in developing ascospores and peridium cells

Neurospora crassa contains all four enzymes for the synthesis of DHN (dihydroxynaphthalene), the substrate for melanin formation. We show that the DHN melanin pathway functions during N. crassa female development to generate melanized peridium and ascospore cell walls. N. crassa contains one polyketide synthase (PER-1), two polyketide hydrolases (PKH-1 and PKH-2), two THN (tetrahydroxynaphthalene) reductases (PKR-1 and PKR-2), and one scytalone dehydratase (SCY-1). We show that the PER-1, PKH-1, PKR-1 and SCY-1 are required for ascospoer melanization. We also identified the laccase that functions in the conversion of DHN into melanin via a free radical oxidative polymerization reaction, and have named the gene lacm-1 (laccase for melanin formation-1). In maturing perithecia, we show that LACM-1 is localized to the peridium cell wall space while the DHN pathway enzymes are localized to intracellular vesicles. We present a model for melanin formation in which melanin is formed within the cell wall space and the cell wall structure is similar to “reinforced concrete” with the cell wall glucan, chitin, and glycoproteins encased within the melanin polymer. This arrangement provides for a very strong and resilient cell wall and protects the glucan/chitin/glycoprotein matrix from digestion from enzymes and damage from free radicals.     

Novel naphtho[2,1-d]oxazole-4,5-diones as NQO1 substrates with improved aqueous solubility: Design,synthesis, and in vivo antitumor evaluation

A new series of ortho-naphthoquinone analogs of β-lapachone were designed, synthesized and evaluated. The biological results indicated that most of our compounds were efficient substrates for NQO1. The new scaffold with water-soluble side chain resulted in greater solubility under acidic condition compared to β-lapachone. Thus avoiding the use of hydroxylpropyl β-cyclodextrin which would finally cause the rapid drug clearance from the blood and dose-limiting toxicity in the form of hemolytic anemia. The most soluble and promising compound in this series was 2-((4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl)naphtho[2,1-d]oxazole-4,5-dione (3k), which inhibited cancer cell (NQO1-rich A549 cell line) growth at IC₅₀ values of 4.6 ± 1.0 μmol·L⁻¹. Furthermore, compound 3k had in vivo antitumor activity in an A549 tumor xenografts mouse model comparable to the activity obtained with β-lapachone. The results indicated that these ortho-naphthoquinones could serve as promising leads for further optimization as novel substrates for NQO1.     

Laccases Involved in 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene Melanin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus Are Regulated by Developmental Factors and Copper Homeostasis

Aspergillus fumigatus produces heavily melanized infectious conidia. The conidial melanin is associated with fungal virulence and resistance to various environmental stresses. This 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin is synthesized by enzymes encoded in a gene cluster in A. fumigatus, including two laccases, Abr1 and Abr2. Although this gene cluster is not conserved in all aspergilli, laccases are critical for melanization in all species examined. Here we show that the expression of A. fumigatus laccases Abr1/2 is upregulated upon hyphal competency and drastically increased during conidiation. The Abr1 protein is localized at the surface of stalks and conidiophores, but not in young hyphae, consistent with the gene expression pattern and its predicted role. The induction of Abr1/2 upon hyphal competency is controlled by BrlA, the master regulator of conidiophore development, and is responsive to the copper level in the medium. We identified a developmentally regulated putative copper transporter, CtpA, and found that CtpA is critical for conidial melanization under copper-limiting conditions. Accordingly, disruption of CtpA enhanced the induction of abr1 and abr2, a response similar to that induced by copper starvation. Furthermore, nonpigmented ctpAΔ conidia elicited much stronger immune responses from the infected invertebrate host Galleria mellonella than the pigmented ctpAΔ or wild-type conidia. Such enhancement in eliciting Galleria immune responses was independent of the ctpAΔ conidial viability, as previously observed for the DHN melanin mutants. Taken together, our findings indicate that both copper homeostasis and developmental regulators control melanin biosynthesis, which affects conidial surface properties that shape the interaction between this pathogen and its host.     

Isolation and properties of fungal β-glucosidases

Using chromatography on different matrixes, three β-glucosidases (120, 116, and 70 kDa) were isolated from enzymatic complexes of the mycelial fungi Aspergillus japonicus, Penicillium verruculosum, and Trichoderma reesei, respectively. The enzymes were identified by MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry. Substrate specificity, kinetic parameters for hydrolysis of specific substrates, ability to catalyze the transglucosidation reaction, dependence of the enzymatic activity on pH and temperature, stability of the enzymes at different temperatures, adsorption ability on insoluble cellulose, and the influence of glucose on catalytic properties of the enzymes were investigated. According to the substrate specificity, the enzymes were shown to belong to two groups: i) β-glucosidase of A. japonicus exhibiting high specific activity to the low molecular weight substrates cellobiose and pNPG (the specific activity towards cellobiose was higher than towards pNPG) and low activity towards polysaccharide substrates (β-glucan from barley and laminarin); ii) β-glucosidases from P. verruculosum and T. reesei exhibiting relatively high activity to polysaccharide substrates and lower activity to low molecular weight substrates (activity to cellobiose was lower than to pNPG).     

Reaction of methyl β-d-glycero-l-manno-heptopyranoside with cyclohexanone: Synthesis of the 4- and 6-methyl ethers of d-glycero-l-manno-heptitol

Acid-catalysed condensation of methyl β-d-glycero-l-manno-heptopyranoside with cyclohexanone yielded an approximately 3:1 mixture of the 2,3:6,7- and 2,3:4,7-di-O-cyclohexylideneheptosides (1 and 2), which could be separated either as their benzoates (3 and 4) or as their methyl ethers (5 and 6). The latter compounds afforded the 4- and 6-methyl ethers (7 and 8) of d-glycero-l-manno-heptitol.     

Novel chromogenic aminopeptidase substrates for the detection and identification of clinically important microorganisms

A series of amino acid derivatives 8–10, 42 and 43 have been prepared as chromogenic enzyme substrates in order to detect aminopeptidase activity in clinically important Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Enzymatic hydrolysis liberates the amino acid moiety and either a 4-aminophenol or a 4-dialkylaminoaniline derivative which undergoes oxidative coupling with 1-naphthol or a substituted 1-naphthol giving an indophenol dye. Substrates and 1-naphthols were incorporated into an agar-based culture medium and this allowed growth of intensely coloured bacterial colonies based on hydrolysis by specific enzymes. Red/pink coloured colonies were produced by the substrates 8–10 and blue coloured colonies were formed by the substrates 42 and 43. The l-alanyl aminopeptidase substrates 8 targeted l-alanyl aminopeptidase activity and gave coloured colonies with a range of Gram-negative bacteria. Substrates 9 targeted β-alanyl aminopeptidase activity and generated coloured colonies with selected Gram-negative species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Three substrates for l-pyroglutamyl acid aminopeptidase (10a, 10c and 43) were hydrolysed by enterococci and Streptococcus pyogenes to generate coloured colonies. Two yeasts were also included in the study, but they did not produce coloured colonies with any of the substrates examined.     

Colorimetric Paper-based Detection of Escherichia coli,Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes from Large Volumes of Agricultural Water

This protocol describes rapid colorimetric detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes from large volumes (10 L) of agricultural waters. Here, water is filtered through sterile Modified Moore Swabs (MMS), which consist of a simple gauze filter enclosed in a plastic cartridge, to concentrate bacteria. Following filtration, non-selective or selective enrichments for the target bacteria are performed in the MMS. For colorimetric detection of the target bacteria, the enrichments are then assayed using paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) embedded with bacteria-indicative substrates. Each substrate reacts with target-indicative bacterial enzymes, generating colored products that can be detected visually (qualitative detection) on the µPAD. Alternatively, digital images of the reacted µPADs can be generated with common scanning or photographic devices and analyzed using ImageJ software, allowing for more objective and standardized interpretation of results. Although the biochemical screening procedures are designed to identify the aforementioned bacterial pathogens, in some cases enzymes produced by background microbiota or the degradation of the colorimetric substrates may produce a false positive. Therefore, confirmation using a more discriminatory diagnostic is needed. Nonetheless, this bacterial concentration and detection platform is inexpensive, sensitive (0.1 CFU/ml detection limit), easy to perform, and rapid (concentration, enrichment, and detection are performed within approximately 24 hr), justifying its use as an initial screening method for the microbiological quality of agricultural water.     

Chromane derivatives of small aromatic molecules: Chemoenzymatic synthesis and growth inhibitory activity on human tumor cell line LoVo WT

Aromatic substrates tyrosol (p-hydroxyphenylethanol) and 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene (2,6-DHN) were converted into chromane derivatives by means of chemoenzymatic reactions catalyzed by the aromatic prenyltransferase of bacterial origin NovQ, using dimethylallyl bromide as allylic substrate instead of the natural isoprenyl pyrophosphate substrate. Stereoselective prenylation occurred in o-position with respect to the phenol hydroxyl in both compounds. Prenylated derivatives were readily converted into chromane products via a selective 6-endo-trig cyclization involving the oxygen atom from the phenol moiety and the double bond of the prenyl substituent, a process catalyzed by FeCl₃. These findings set up the basis of a most convenient two-step, one-pot process which allows for easy recovery of the chromane products in high yields. The chromane derivatives thus obtained were tested for cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activity using LoVo WT cells, a line of human colon adenocarcinoma.     

The unusual substrate specificity of a virulence associated serine hydrolase from the highly toxic bacterium,Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of the highly, infectious disease, tularemia. Amongst the genes identified as essential to the virulence of F. tularensis was the proposed serine hydrolase FTT0941c. Herein, we purified FTT0941c to homogeneity and then characterized the folded stability, enzymatic activity, and substrate specificity of FTT0941c. Based on phylogenetic analysis, FTT0941c was classified within a divergent Francisella subbranch of the bacterial hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) superfamily, but with the conserved sequence motifs of a bacterial serine hydrolase. FTT0941c showed broad hydrolase activity against diverse libraries of ester substrates, including significant hydrolytic activity across alkyl ester substrates from 2 to 8 carbons in length. Among a diverse library of fluorogenic substrates, FTT0941c preferred α-cyclohexyl ester substrates, matching with the substrate specificity of structural homologues and the broad open architecture of its modeled binding pocket. By substitutional analysis, FTT0941c was confirmed to have a classic catalytic triad of Ser115, His278, and Asp248 and to remain thermally stable even after substitution. Its overall substrate specificity profile, divergent phylogenetic homology, and preliminary pathway analysis suggested potential biological functions for FTT0941c in diverse metabolic degradation pathways in F. tularensis.     

Kinetic resolution of aliphatic acyclic β-hydroxyketones by recombinant whole-cell Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases—Formation of enantiocomplementary regioisomeric esters

A set of various linear aliphatic β-hydroxyketones was investigated as substrates in the enzymatic kinetic and regioselective Baeyer–Villiger oxidation catalyzed by 12 Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases from different bacterial origin. Excellent enantioselectivities (E >100) could be observed with 4-hydroxy-2-ketones. After acyl migration, the ester undergoes hydrolysis followed by the formation of optically active 1,2-diols. Furthermore, resolution of 5-hydroxy-3-ketones gave access to the ‘abnormal’ esters, which broadens applicability of these enzymes in organic chemistry. Additionally, it was noticed, that several substrates were converted by different enzymes in an enantiocomplementary way and with high optical purities.     

Characterization of melanin isolated from a dark septate endophyte (DSE), Exophiala pisciphila

Melanin produced by a dark septate endophyte, Exophiala pisciphila, was isolated and purified. The solubility properties, Ultraviolet–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the purified E. pisciphila melanin were similar to those of typical melanin. Inhibition of melanin production was observed when colonies exposed to tricyclazole (1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin inhibitor), but not to kojic acid (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine melanin inhibitor). Thus the E. pisciphila melanin was a member of DHN melanin family. In addition, the antioxidant activities of E. pisciphila melanin were evaluated in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical-scavenging assay. E. pisciphila melanin exhibited a strong antioxidant activity. Addition of 50–350 mg L⁻¹ Cd(II) to the medium increased the melanin production in E. pisciphila.     

Nucleosides. LIV1 Synthesis and Properties of 3′-Azido- and 2′,3′-Dideoxy-6,7-diphenyllumazine Nucleosides

Abstract

The best approach for the synthesis of1-(3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-β-D-erythro-pento-furanosyl)lumazine (5) and its 6,7-dimethyl- (4) and 6,7-diphenyl derivatives (3) has been found in the interconversion of the corresponding 1-(2-deoxy- β-threo-pentofuranosyl)-lumazines. Monomethoxytritylation at the 5′-position (1 7, 3 4, 4 9) followed by mesylation at the 3′-OH group and subsequent nucleophilic displacement by lithium azide afforded 1 9, 2 9 and 4 7 which were deprotected by acid treatment to give 3–5 in good yields. The syntheses of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-β-D-glycero-pentofuranosyl)-6,7-diphenyllumazine (6) and its 6,7-dimethyl derivative (7) were achieved from 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-6,7-diphenyllumazine and the corresponding 6,7-dimethyllumazine (2 6) via their 5′-O-p-toluoyl- (2 0, 3 0), and 3′-deoxy-3′-iodo derivatives (2 4, 3 1) to form, after radical dehalogenation and final deprotection, 6 and 7. The newly synthesized lumazine nucleosides have been characterized by elemental analyses, UV-and NMR spectra.