Production of limonoate A-ring lactone by immobilized limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase

Summary Limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase, the enzyme catalysing the reversible lactonization/hydrolysis of D-ring in limonin, has been purified from Citrus seeds and immobilized on Q-Sepharose to produce homogeneous limonoate A-ring lactone solutions. The immobilized limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase showed a good operational stability and was stable after sixty-seventy operations and storing at 4°C for six months.     

Stereospecificity of pantoyl lactone formed by yeast cells and purified yeast ketopantoyl lactone reductases.

Two highly purified yeast ketopantoyl lactone reductases form d-(?)-pantoyl lactone from ketopantoyl lactone, but whole or broken yeast forms a mixture of d-(?)- and l-(+)-pantoyl lactone. Of three potential routes for formation of l-(+)-pantoyl lactone, direct reduction of ketopantoyl lactone seems most likely.     

Liquid chromatographic quantitation of the lactone and the total of lactone and carboxylate forms of 9-nitrocamptothecin in human plasma

Simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays were developed and validated for the quantitation of the investigational anticancer drug 9-nitrocamptothecin (9-NC) as the lactone form and as the total of the lactone(I) and carboxylate(II) forms in human plasma. For the assay of lactone form (9NC-lac), the analytical method involved a protein precipitation step with adding a mixture of cold acetonitril-chloroform (5:1 (v/v), -20 degrees C) to plasma sample that stabilized the pH-dependent conversion of I to II. After evaporation under gentle stream of nitrogen gas (40 degrees C) the dry extract was dissolved in mobile phase (pH 5.5). For determination of the total of the lactone and carboxylate forms of the drug (9NC-tot), plasma samples were deproteinated with cold acetonitril (-20 degrees C) acidified with perchloric acid (5%), which resulted in the conversion of the carboxylate into the lactone form. After centrifugation the upper solvent was evaporated (nitrogen, 40 degrees C) and the dry extract was dissolved in mobile phase (pH 3.5). All separations were performed on a RP-C(8) column, using a mixture of acetonitril-water as eluent (pH 3.5 for total form and pH 5.5 for lactone form) and UV detection. The presented assay was linear over a concentration range of 25-1500 ng/ml with lower limit of quantitation of 25 ng/ml for both 9NC-tot and 9NC-lac. Within-run and between-run precision was always less than 7.5% in the concentration range of interest. The reported assay method showed good characteristics of linearity, sensitivity, selectivity and precision allowing applying in pharmacokinetic studies.     

l-Pantoyl lactone dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus erythropolis: genetic analyses and application to the stereospecific oxidation of l-pantoyl lactone

The 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) inducible membrane-bound L-pantoyl lactone (L-PL) dehydrogenase (LPLDH) has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AKU2103 (Kataoka et al. in Eur J Biochem 204:799, 1992). Based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of LPLDH and the highly conserved amino acid sequence in homology search results, the LPLDH gene (lpldh) was cloned. The gene consists of 1,179 bases and encodes a protein of 392 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity to the proteins of the FMN-dependent α-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase/oxidase family. The overexpression vector pKLPLDH containing lpldh with its upstream region (1,940 bp) was constructed and introduced into R. erythropolis AKU2103. The recombinant R. erythropolis AKU2103 harboring pKLPLDH showed six times higher LPLDH activity than the wild-type strain. Conversion of L-PL to ketopantoyl lactone was achieved with 92% or 80% conversion yield when the substrate concentration was 0.768 or 1.15 M, respectively. Stereoinversion of L-PL to D-PL was also carried out by using the combination of recombinant R. erythropolis AKU2103 harboring pKLPLDH and ketopantoic acid-reducing Escherichia coli.     

17-dehydrolimonoate A-ring lactone: A possible metabolite of limonoate A-ring lactone in Citrus fruits

A new limonoid, 17-dehydrolimonoate A-ring lactone (III), was isolated from orange peel, juice and lemon seeds and seedlings. This compound which is non-bitter appears to be an initial product of limonoate A-ring lactone (II) metabolism. As such it may be the initial intermediate in at least one debittering pathway in citrus fruits.     

Bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of tobacco plants producing the quorum-sensing signals hexanoyl-homoserine lactone and 3-oxo-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone

A tobacco line genetically modified to produce two N-acyl homoserine lactones and its non-transformed parental line were grown in non-sterile soil. Microbial populations inhabiting the bulk soil, and those colonizing the root system of the two tobacco lines, were analyzed using cultivation-independent (phospholipid fatty acid and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and cultivation-based assays. The cell density of total cultivable bacteria, fluorescent pseudomonads, sporulated, and thermotolerant bacteria was also determined in a time-course experiment (15 weeks). A possible "rhizosphere effect" related to the development of the plant was seen. However, no dissimilarities in cell population densities or population ratios of the microbial groups were detected in the rhizosphere of the two plant lines. Similarly, bacterial communities that either produced N-acyl homoserine lactone or degraded the signal hexanoyl homoserine lactone were enumerated from the two plant lines. No noticeable differences were evidenced from one plant genotype to the other. Whilst the transgenic plants released detectable amounts of the quorum-sensing signal molecules and efficiently cross-talked with the surrounding microbial populations, the bias generated by these signals in the reported experimental conditions therefore appears to remain weak, if not non-existent.     

Microbial synthesis of triacetic acid lactone

Native g2ps1-encoded 2-pyrone synthase (2-PS) from Gerbera hybrida, a mutant Brevibacterium ammoniagenes fatty acid synthase B (FAS-B) and two different mutants of Penicillium patulum 6-methylsalycilic acid synthase (6-MSAS) are examined to identify the best enzyme to recruit for the microbial synthesis of triacetic acid lactone (TAL). To identify the best microbial host for these evaluations, the native TAL-synthesizing activity of g2ps1-encoded 2-PS is expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae constructs. Five-fold higher expression levels of 2-PS are observed in S. cerevisiae. Consequently, microbial synthesis of TAL focuses on S. cerevisiae constructs. Comparison of different promoters for the expression of g2ps1 in S. cerevisiae indicates that the alcohol dehydrogenase II promoter (P(ADH2)) affords the highest expression levels of 2-PS. As a result, the genes encoding the various TAL-synthesizing enzyme activities are expressed in S. cerevisiae from a P(ADH2) promoter. To extend TAL-synthesizing activity beyond g2ps1-encoded 2-PS, the ketoreductase domains of fasB-encoded FAS-B and 6-MSAS-encoded 6-MSAS are modified using a single mutation. Modification of the nicotinamide cofactor-binding site of 6-MSAS with a triple mutation is also examined. Separate S. cerevisiae constructs expressing native g2ps1, mutant Y2226F fasB, mutant Y1572F 6-MSAS, and mutant G1419A-G1421P-G1424A 6-MSAS are cultured under the same fermentor-controlled conditions. The highest concentration (1.8 g/L) and yield (6%) of TAL are synthesized from glucose by S. cerevisiae expressing the Y1572F mutant of 6-MSAS.     

Sesquiterpene lactone from Salmalia malbarica

A new cadalane type sesquiterpenoid, 1, 6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-7-methoxy-8-carboxylic acid (8 → 1 lactone) has been isolated from a 50% aqueous methanolic extract of 6–9 months old cultivated roots of Salmalia malbarica (Bombax malbaricum).     

Functional sites and evolutionary connections of acylhomoserine lactone synthases

Acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) synthases act as chemical communication signals or pheromones in Gram-negative bacteria and regulate diverse physiological events in a cell density-dependent manner. The recent crystal structure determination of EsaI, a key enzyme in this pathway, shows that the AHL synthase superfamily members adopt the fold of the N-acetyltransferase superfamily. We suggest, by the identification of intermediate sequences, that the two superfamilies are evolutionarily related. Evolutionary trace analyses of aligned sequences and docking studies have been used to discuss functionally important residues of EsaI homologues.     

Diterpenoids and a sesquiterpene lactone from viguiera ladibractate

Eight known diterpene acids, ent-12-oxokaur-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-12β-hydroxykaur-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-isokaur-15(16)-en-17,19-dioic acid, ent-15α,16-epoxy-17-hydroxykaura-19-oic acid, ent-kaura-17,19-dioic acid, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, grandifloric acid, angeloyloxygrandifloric acid, as well as a new sesquiterpene lactone, ladibranolide, were isolated from Viguiera ladibractate. The stereochemistry of the sesquiterpene lactone was established by NOE experiments.     

Fungicidal activity of natural and synthetic sesquiterpene lactone analogs

Fungicidal activity of 36 natural and synthetic sesquiterpene lactones with guaianolide, trans, trans-germacranolide, cis, cis-germacranolide, melampolide, and eudesmanolide carbon skeletons was evaluated against the phytopathogenic fungi Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae, C. gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, and Phomopsis sp. Dose-response data for the active compounds dehydrozaluzanin C, dehydrocostuslactone, 5alpha-hydroxydehydrocostuslacone, costunolide, and zaluzanin C are presented. A new 96-well microbioassay procedure for fast and easy evaluation of antifungal activity was used to compare these compounds with commercial fungicide standards. Some structure-activity conclusions are also presented.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of some steroidal lactone compounds

Using cholesterol as starting material, some steroidal lactone compounds with the structures of 3-substituted-6-oxo-7-oxa-B-homo-cholestane or 3-substituted-7-oxo-6-oxa-B-homo-cholestane were synthesized by oxidation, reduction, Baeyer-Villiger reaction and condensation reaction. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MGC 7901 (human gastric carcinoma), HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) and SMMC 7404 (human liver carcinoma) cells was investigated. Our results showed that the synthesized compounds displayed a distinct cytotoxicity against these cancer cells. In particular, compounds 8 and 9 have similar cytotoxic capability as cisplatin does. The information obtained from the studies may be useful for the design of novel chemotherapeutic drugs.     

Sesquiterpene lactone and friedelane derivative from drypetes molunduana

A new sesquiterpene lactone, drypemolundein A and a new friedelane derivative, drypemolundein B, along with seven known compounds have been isolated from the whole stems of Drypetes molunduana Pax and Hoffm. Their structures were established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR, homo- and hetero-nuclear spectroscopic evidence.     

Synthesis of steroidal lactone by penicillium citreo-viride

The biotransformations of a series of steroids by the fungus penicillium citreo-viride A.C.C.C. 0402 have been investigated, and the conversion to the same product testolactone (1) was observed from progesterone (2), dehydroepiandrosterone (3), 4-androstene-3, 17-dione (4), 5-androstene-3, 17-diol (5) with the exception of pregnenolone (6) and 3beta-hydroxy-5, 16-pregnadien-20-one (7). The possible metabolic pathways of the biotransformations were also discussed in the paper and the fungus penicillium citreo-viride A.C.C.C. 0402 was isolated during screening stains from samples collected from Zhengzhou, Henan province of China.     

Crystal structure of a lysozyme-tetrasaccharide lactone complex

The binding of a proposed transition-state analogue, the δ-lactone derived from tetra-N-acetylchitotetraose, to lysozyme in the crystal at pH 2.6 has been studied by X-ray diffraction techniques to a resolution of 2.5 Å. The tetrasaccharide lactone is bound in sites A, B, C, D with sugar residues located in sites A, B and C in similar positions to those observed previously in the complex with tri-N-acetylchitotriose. Analysis of the electron density map for site D, by direct model-building and with a computer model-building programme, indicates that the δ-lactone ring is in a conformation close to a sofa or a boat which brings the hydroxymethyl group C₍₆₎O₍₆₎ axial. These studies provide support for the role of strain in the proposed mechanism of lysozyme catalysis. The orientation of the lactone group in site D is slightly different from that originally derived by hypothetical model-building.     

A new lactone from water-stressed chickpea

The isolation of a new lactone, 2-methyl-2,3,4-trihydroxybutanoic acid-1,4-lactone, from leaves of water-stressed chickpea is described. Elucidation of the structure was by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The lactone could not be detected in the leaves of well-watered plants. Its occurrence in other species is confirmed.     

The LuxM homologue VanM from Vibrio anguillarum directs the synthesis of N-(3-hydroxyhexanoyl)homoserine lactone and N-hexanoylhomoserine lactone

Vibrio anguillarum, which causes terminal hemorrhagic septicemia in fish, was previously shown to possess a LuxRI-type quorum-sensing system (vanRI) and to produce N-(3-oxodecanoyl)homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C10-HSL). However, a vanI null mutant still activated N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) biosensors, indicating the presence of an additional quorum-sensing circuit in V. anguillarum. In this study, we have characterized this second system. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry and chemical analysis, we identified two additional AHLs as N-hexanoylhomoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and N-(3-hydroxyhexanoyl)homoserine lactone (3-hydroxy-C6-HSL). Quantification of each AHL present in stationary-phase V. anguillarum spent culture supernatants indicated that 3-oxo-C10-HSL, 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL, and C6-HSL are present at approximately 8.5, 9.5, and 0.3 nM, respectively. Furthermore, vanM, the gene responsible for the synthesis of these AHLs, was characterized and shown to be homologous to the luxL and luxM genes, which are required for the production of N-(3-hydroxybutanoyl)homoserine lactone in Vibrio harveyi. However, resequencing of the V. harveyi luxL/luxM junction revealed a sequencing error present in the published sequence, which when corrected resulted in a single open reading frame (termed luxM). Downstream of vanM, we identified a homologue of luxN (vanN) that encodes a hybrid sensor kinase which forms part of a phosphorelay cascade involved in the regulation of bioluminescence in V. harveyi. A mutation in vanM abolished the production of C6-HSL and 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL. In addition, production of 3-oxo-C10-HSL was abolished in the vanM mutant, suggesting that 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL and C6-HSL regulate the production of 3-oxo-C10-HSL via vanRI. However, a vanN mutant displayed a wild-type AHL profile. Neither mutation affected either the production of proteases or virulence in a fish infection model. These data indicate that V. anguillarum possesses a hierarchical quorum sensing system consisting of regulatory elements homologous to those found in both V. fischeri (the LuxRI homologues VanRI) and V. harveyi (the LuxMN homologues, VanMN).