Crystal structure of DnaK protein complexed with nucleotide exchange factor GrpE in DnaK chaperone system: insight into intermolecular communication.

The conserved, ATP-dependent bacterial DnaK chaperones process client substrates with the aid of the co-chaperones DnaJ and GrpE. However, in the absence of structural information, how these proteins communicate with each other cannot be fully delineated. For the study reported here, we solved the crystal structure of a full-length Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426 GrpE homodimer in complex with a nearly full-length G.

Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Pseudoelephantopus spicatus.

Five new sesquiterpene lactones, spicatolides D-H (1-5), along with four known compounds, pitocarphin D (6), 8 alpha-acetoxy-10 alpha-hydroxy-13-O-methylhirsutinolide (7), spicatolide A (8), and 13-O-methylvernojalcanolide 8-O-acetate (9), were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts of Pseudoelephantopus spicatus. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. All of the compounds isolated were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against five human cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic withanolides from Tubocapsicum anomalum.

Fifteen new withanolides (1-8, 11-17) and two known withanolides, withanolide D (9) and 17alpha-hydroxywithanolide D (10), were isolated from the stems, roots, and leaves of Tubocapsicum anomalum using bioassay-directed fractionation. The structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations were established by CD analysis and by the Mosher ester method. The structure of 1 and 3 were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Longicalycinin A, a new cytotoxic cyclic peptide from Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus (MAXIM.) WILL.

A new cyclic peptide, longicalycinin A (1), and six known compounds, vaccaroside A, dianoside A, dianoside G, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)propionic acid methyl ester, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde were isolated from the MeOH extract of Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus. The amino acid sequences of 1 was elucidated as cyclo(Gly(1)-Phe(2)-Tyr(3)-Pro(4)-Phe(5)-) on the basis of ESI tandem mass fragmentation analysis, chemical evidence, and extensive 2D NMR methods.

New cytotoxic cyclic peptides and dianthramide from Dianthus superbus.

Four new cyclic peptides, dianthins C-F (1-4), and a new dianthramide, 4-methoxydianthramide B (5), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Dianthus superbus. The sequences of cyclic peptides 1-4 were elucidated as cyclo(Gly(1)-Pro(2)-Phe(3)-Tyr(4)-Val(5)-Ile(6)-), cyclo(Gly(1)-Ser(2)-Leu(3)-Pro(4)-Pro(5)-Ile(6)-Phe(7)-), cyclo(Gly(1)-Pro(2)-Ile(3)-Ser(4)-Phe(5)-Val(6)-), and cyclo(Gly(1)-Pro(2)-Phe(3)-Val(4)-Phe(5)-) on the basis of ESI tandem mass fragmentation analysis, chemical evidence, and extensive 2D NMR methods. The conformation of compound 1 was established as an alpha-helix by CD analysis.