Steroidal glycoalkaloids contribute to anthracnose resistance in Solanum lycopersicum.

Anthracnose is a widespread plant disease caused by various species of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum. In solanaceous plants such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Colletotrichum infections exhibit a quiescent, asymptomatic state in developing fruit, followed by a transition to necrotrophic infections in ripe fruit. Through analysis of fruit tissue extracts of 95L368, a tomato breeding line that yields fruit with enhanced anthracnose resistance, we identified a role for steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) in anthracnose resistance.

Selective catalytic hydrogenation of the N-acyl and uridyl double bonds in the tunicamycin family of protein N-glycosylation inhibitors.

Tunicamycin is a Streptomyces-derived inhibitor of eukaryotic protein N-glycosylation and bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, and is a potent and general toxin by these biological mechanisms. The antibacterial activity is dependent in part upon a π-π stacking interaction between the tunicamycin uridyl group and a specific Phe residue within MraY, a tunicamycin-binding protein in bacteria. We have previously shown that reducing the tunicamycin uridyl group to 5,6-dihydrouridyl (DHU) significantly lowers its eukaryotic toxicity, potentially by disrupting the π-stacking with the active site Phe.

Modified tunicamycins with reduced eukaryotic toxicity that enhance the antibacterial activity of β-lactams.

Tunicamycins (TUN) are inhibitors of the UDP-HexNAc: polyprenol-P HexNAc-1-P transferase family of enzymes, which initiate the biosynthesis of bacterial peptidoglycan and catalyze the first step in eukaryotic protein N-glycosylation. The TUN are therefore general and potent toxins to both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Screening a library of synthetic TUN against Bacillus and yeast identified TUN that are antibacterial, but have significantly reduced eukaryotic toxicity.

Production of anti-streptococcal liamocins from agricultural biomass by Aureobasidium pullulans.

Liamocins are unique heavier-than-water "oils" produced by certain strains of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. Liamocins have antibacterial activity with specificity for Streptococcus sp. Previous studies reported that liamocin yields were highest from strains of A.

Polyols, not sugars, determine the structural diversity of anti-streptococcal liamocins produced by Aureobasidium pullulans strain NRRL 50380.

Liamocins are polyol lipids produced by the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, and have selective antibacterial activity against Streptococcus species. Liamocins produced by A. pullulans strain NRRL 50380 on sucrose medium have a d-mannitol head group ester-linked to 3,5-dihydroxydecanoate acyl chains, three or four of which are joined together by 1,5-polyester bonds (liamocins Man-A1 and Man-B1), and similar 3'-O-acetylated analogs (Man-A2 and Man-B2).

A one-pot synthesis of 1,6,9,13-tetraoxadispiro(4.2.4.2)tetradecane by hydrodeoxygenation of xylose using a palladium catalyst.

In an effort to expand the number of biobased chemicals available from sugars, xylose has been converted to 1,6,9,13-tetraoxadispiro(4.2.4.

Quinovosamycins: new tunicamycin-type antibiotics in which the α, β-1″,11'-linked N-acetylglucosamine residue is replaced by N-acetylquinovosamine.

Tunicamycins (TUN) are potent inhibitors of polyprenyl phosphate N-acetylhexosamine 1-phosphate transferases (PPHP), including essential eukaryotic GPT enzymes and bacterial HexNAc 1-P translocases. Hence, TUN blocks the formation of eukaryotic N-glycoproteins and the assembly of bacterial call wall polysaccharides. The genetic requirement for TUN production is well-established.

Frost Grape Polysaccharide (FGP), an Emulsion-Forming Arabinogalactan Gum from the Stems of Native North American Grape Species Vitis riparia Michx.

A new arabinogalactan is described that is produced in large quantity from the cut stems of the North American grape species Vitis riparia (Frost grape). The sugar composition consists of l-arabinofuranose (l-Araf, 55.2%) and d-galactopyranose (d-Galp 30.

Production of novel types of antibacterial liamocins by diverse strains of Aureobasidium pullulans grown on different culture media.

Objectives: To compare production of antibacterial liamocins (polyol lipids) by diverse strains of Aureobasidium pullulans grown on different culture media.

Results: Liamocins produced by strains of A. pullulans have potential agricultural and pharmaceutical applications as antibacterials with specificity against Streptococcus spp.

Nickel-Catalyzed Proton-Deuterium Exchange (HDX) Procedures for Glycosidic Linkage Analysis of Complex Carbohydrates.

The structural analysis of complex carbohydrates typically requires the assignment of three parameters: monosaccharide composition, the position of glycosidic linkages between monosaccharides, and the position and nature of noncarbohydrate substituents. The glycosidic linkage positions are often determined by permethylation analysis, but this can be complicated by high viscosity or poor solubility, resulting in under-methylation. This is a drawback because an under-methylated position may be misinterpreted as the erroneous site of a linkage or substituent.

Polyglycine hydrolases: Fungal β-lactamase-like endoproteases that cleave polyglycine regions within plant class IV chitinases.

Polyglycine hydrolases are secreted fungal proteases that cleave glycine-glycine peptide bonds in the inter-domain linker region of specific plant defense chitinases. Previously, we reported the catalytic activity of polyglycine hydrolases from the phytopathogens Epicoccum sorghi (Es-cmp) and Cochliobolus carbonum (Bz-cmp). Here we report the identity of their encoding genes and the primary amino acid sequences of the proteins responsible for these activities.

Anomericity of T-2 toxin-glucoside: masked mycotoxin in cereal crops.

T-2 toxin is a trichothecene mycotoxin produced when Fusarium fungi infect grains, especially oats and wheat. Ingestion of T-2 toxin contaminated grain can cause diarrhea, hemorrhaging, and feed refusal in livestock. Cereal crops infected with mycotoxin-producing fungi form toxin glycosides, sometimes called masked mycotoxins, which are a potential food safety concern because they are not detectable by standard approaches and may be converted back to the parent toxin during digestion or food processing.

Enzymatic modification of schizophyllan.

An enzymatic method was developed for the progressive modification of the polysaccharide schizophyllan. Fungal strains Hypocrea nigricans NRRL 62555, Penicillium crustosum NRRL 62558, and Penicillium simplicissimum NRRL 62550 were previously identified as novel sources of β-endoglucanase with specificity towards schizophyllan. Concentrated enzyme preparations from these strains showed specific activities of 1.

Novel mode of action of plant defense peptides - hevein-like antimicrobial peptides from wheat inhibit fungal metalloproteases.

The multilayered plant immune system relies on rapid recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns followed by activation of defense-related genes, resulting in the reinforcement of plant cell walls and the production of antimicrobial compounds. To suppress plant defense, fungi secrete effectors, including a recently discovered Zn-metalloproteinase from Fusarium verticillioides, named fungalysin Fv-cmp. This proteinase cleaves class IV chitinases, which are plant defense proteins that bind and degrade chitin of fungal cell walls.

Aureobasidium pullulans as a source of liamocins (heavy oils) with anticancer activity.

Liamocins are structurally unique, heavier-than-water “oils” produced by certain strains of Aureobasidium pullulans. The aim of the current study is to identify new sources of liamocins and evaluate their potential as anticancer agents. Nine strains of A.

Biosynthesis of 4-aminoheptose 2-epimers, core structural components of the septacidins and spicamycins.

Septacidins and spicamycins are acylated 4-aminoheptosyl-β-N-glycosides produced by Streptomyces fimbriatus and S. alanosinicus, respectively. Their structures are highly conserved, but differ in the stereochemistry of the 4-aminoheptosyl residues.

Polyglycine hydrolases secreted by Pleosporineae fungi that target the linker region of plant class IV chitinases.

Cmps (chitinase-modifying proteins) are fungal proteases that truncate plant class IV chitinases by cleaving near their N-termini. We previously described Fv-cmp, a fungalysin protease that cleaves a conserved glycine-cysteine bond within the hevein domain. In the present paper we describe a new type of cmp, polyglycine hydrolases, as proteases that selectively cleave glycine-glycine peptide bonds within the polyglycine linker of plant class IV chitinases.

2-Acylamido analogues of N-acetylglucosamine prime formation of chitin oligosaccharides by yeast chitin synthase 2.

Chitin, a homopolymer of β1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues, is a key component of the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods. Chitin synthases transfer GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc to preexisting chitin chains in reactions that are typically stimulated by free GlcNAc. The effect of GlcNAc was probed by using a yeast strain expressing a single chitin synthase, Chs2, by examining formation of chitin oligosaccharides (COs) and insoluble chitin, and by replacing GlcNAc with 2-acylamido analogues of GlcNAc.

Crystallographic structure of ChitA, a glycoside hydrolase family 19, plant class IV chitinase from Zea mays.

Maize ChitA chitinase is composed of a small, hevein-like domain attached to a carboxy-terminal chitinase domain. During fungal ear rot, the hevein-like domain is cleaved by secreted fungal proteases to produce truncated forms of ChitA. Here, we report a structural and biochemical characterization of truncated ChitA (ChitA ΔN), which lacks the hevein-like domain.

Purification and characterization of phosphonoglycans from Glycomyces sp. strain NRRL B-16210 and Stackebrandtia nassauensis NRRL B-16338.

Two related actinomycetes, Glycomyces sp. strain NRRL B-16210 and Stackebrandtia nassauensis NRRL B-16338, were identified as potential phosphonic acid producers by screening for the gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) mutase, which is required for the biosynthesis of most phosphonates. Using a variety of analytical techniques, both strains were subsequently shown to produce phosphonate-containing exopolysaccharides (EPS), also known as phosphonoglycans.

Glycan-specific whole cell affinity chromatography: A versatile microbial adhesion platform.

We have sought a universal platform for elucidating and exploiting specificity of glycan-mediated adhesion by potentially uncharacterized microorganisms. Several techniques exist to explore microbial interactions with carbohydrate structures. Many are unsuitable for investigating specific mechanisms or uncharacterized organisms, requiring pure cultures, labeling techniques, expensive equipment, or other limitations such as questionable stability, stereospecificity, or scalability.

Production of schizophyllan from distiller's dried grains with solubles by diverse strains of Schizophyllum commune.

Eleven diverse strains of Schizophyllan commune were examined for production of the biopolymer schizophyllan from agricultural biomass. Strains were grown in malt extract (ME) basal medium containing 1% (w/v) distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), an abundant coproduct of fuel ethanol production by the dry grind process. Ten of 11 strains tested produced more than 2 g schizophyllan/L.

Structural characterization of novel extracellular liamocins (mannitol oils) produced by Aureobasidium pullulans strain NRRL 50380.

Aureobasidium pullulans is a common, ubiquitous fungus, which is used industrially to produce the polysaccharide pullulan. We have previously shown that A. pullulans produces various heavier-than-water oils, first named here as liamocins, that accumulate in fermentations.

Bacillus spp. produce antibacterial activities against lactic acid bacteria that contaminate fuel ethanol plants.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) frequently contaminate commercial fuel ethanol fermentations, reducing yields and decreasing profitability of biofuel production. Microorganisms from environmental sources in different geographic regions of Thailand were tested for antibacterial activity against LAB. Four bacterial strains, designated as ALT3A, ALT3B, ALT17, and MR1, produced inhibitory effects on growth of LAB.