Discovery of the antifungal compound ilicicolin K through genetic activation of the ilicicolin biosynthetic pathway in Trichoderma reesei.

Background: Given the global rise in antimicrobial resistance, the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents and production processes thereof are of utmost importance. To this end we have activated the gene cluster encoding for the biosynthesis of the potent antifungal compound ilicicolin H in the fungus Trichoderma reesei. While the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) is silent under standard cultivation conditions, we achieved BGC activation by genetically overexpressing the transcription factor TriliR.

Synthesis of Stable Dianionic Cyclic Silenolates and Germenolates.

In this contribution a convenient synthetic method to obtain the previously unknown dianionic cyclic silenolates and germenolates is described. These dianions , and , are easily accessible a one-pot synthetic protocol in high yields. Their structural properties were analyzed by a combination of NMR, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and DFT quantum mechanical calculations.