Isolation, structure, and antibacterial activities of lucensimycins D-G, discovered from Streptomyces lucensis MA7349 using an antisense strategy.

Bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics continues to grow, necessitating the discovery of new compounds of this type. Antisense-based whole-cell target-based screening is a new and highly sensitive antibiotic discovery approach that has led to a number of new natural product antibiotics. Screening with a rpsD-sensitized strain led to the discovery of a number of natural product polyketides from Streptomyces lucensis.

Discovery of lucensimycins A and B from Streptomyces lucensis MA7349 using an antisense strategy.

Inhibition of protein synthesis is one of the validated and highly successful targets for inhibition of bacterial growth; this mechanism is a target of a large number of clinical drugs. Ribosomal protein S4, a primary protein, is a potential target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. We describe, using an antisense-sensitized rpsD Streptomyces aureus strain, the discovery and activity of lucensimycins A and B.

Biosynthesis of nodulisporic acid A: precursor studies.

Nodulisporic acid A (NAA) is an indole-diterpene natural product produced by an indeterminate species of the endophytic fungus Nodulisporium. NAA (Figure 1) is structurally related to the paspaline class of fungal metabolites. The biosynthetic origin proposed for these alkaloids involves the acetate/mevalonic acid pathway leading to geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP).