A locally active antiinflammatory macrolide (MLD987) for inhalation therapy of asthma.

One of the characteristic features of asthma is a persistent pulmonary inflammation, with increased numbers of eosinophils and activated T-lymphocytes in the airways. T-helper cells of the Th2 phenotype play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and they are believed to orchestrate the asthmatic response by releasing a wide repertoire of cytokines. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and evaluation in models of allergic asthma of a locally active T-cell modulator, MLD987 (1).

Cymbimicin A and B, two novel cyclophilin-binding structures isolated from actinomycetes.

Two novel metabolites, cymbimicins A and B, were isolated from the culture broth of a strain of Micromonospora sp. by screening for cyclophilin binding metabolites from actinomycete strains. Cymbimicin A binds to cyclophilin A with a high affinity six fold lower than to that of cyclosporin A.

Microbial conversion products of leptomycin B.

Leptomycin B (LMB), a secondary metabolite produced by Streptomyces sp. strain ATS 1287, with known antifungal and antitumor effects, inhibits the nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 regulatory protein Rev and exhibits significant antiproliferative activity. Since LMB itself turned out to be distinctly cytotoxic, a bioconversion screening with a selected set of 29 bacterial and 72 fungal strains was performed in order to obtain metabolites of LMB with reduced antiproliferative effects.

Antascomicins A, B, C, D and E. Novel FKBP12 binding compounds from a Micromonospora strain.

5 novel ascomycin-like compounds, antascomicins A, B, C, D and E were isolated from a strain of Micromonospora. The antascomicins bind strongly to the FK506-binding protein FKBP12 and antagonize the immunosuppressive activity of FK506 and rapamycin. The strain description, fermentation, structure elucidation and biological activity of these compounds are described.

In vitro biosynthesis of ring-extended cyclosporins.

Cyclosporin synthetase, a multifunctional polypeptide, catalyses the biosynthesis of the set of natural cyclosporins. We report that this enzyme is also capable of introducing a beta-alanine into position 7 or 8 of the ring instead of the alpha-alanines present at these positions in cyclosporin A. This leads to 34-membered rings in contrast to the 33-membered ring of the cyclo-undecapeptide cyclosporin A.

2-Epimutalomycin and 28-epimutalomycin, two new polyether antibiotics from Streptomyces mutabilis. Derivatization of mutalomycin and the structure elucidation of two minor metabolites.

A number of derivatives of mutalomycin (1), a naturally occurring polyether antibiotic, have been synthesized. In the desulfurization reaction of the ethylthio derivative (5) of mutalomycin (1) with Raney-nickel we observed an unusual course of the reaction, namely the introduction of a hydroxy group instead of the usual exchange against hydrogen, leading to two reaction products, mutalomycin (1) and 28-epimutalomycin (3). The structure of 3 and 2-epimutalomycin (2), both minor metabolites from the mutalomycin fermentation, were elucidated by X-ray analysis.