Molecular basis for the blue bioluminescence of the Australian glow-worm Arachnocampa richardsae (Diptera: Keroplatidae).

Bioluminescence is the emission of visible light by living organisms. Here we describe the isolation and characterisation of a cDNA encoding a MW ≈ 59,000 Da luciferase from the Australian glow-worm, Arachnocampa richardsae. The enzyme is a member of the acyl-CoA ligase superfamily and produces blue light on addition of D-luciferin.

Structures of flagranones A, B and C, cyclohexenoxide antibiotics from the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans.

Spectroscopic data define the structures of the flagranones A (2), B (3) and C (4) from the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans. These antibiotics are structurally related to the farnesylated cyclohexenoxides of the oligosporon group recently isolated from the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora, and show similar antimicrobial activity.

Structure of actinotetraose hexatiglate, a unique glucotetraose from an actinomycete bacterium.

An Actinomycete strain A499 belonging to the genera Amycolatopsis or Amycolata isolated from a Western Australian soil sample produced the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic quinaldopeptin (1), together with the actinotetraose hexatiglate (2), the hexa-ester of a novel non-reducing glucotetraose.

3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid in antibiotic biosynthesis. XI. Biological origins and semisynthesis of thionaphthomycins, and the structures of naphthomycins I and J.

Fermentations of Streptomyces sp. E/784 produce low levels of the novel C-30 alkylthio-substituted ansamycin antibiotics naphthomycins J (9) and I (10), in addition to the more abundant C-30 hydroxylated analogues actamycin (1) and naphthomycin D (2) and C-30 chlorinated analogues naphthomycins H (3) and A (4). The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine to the fermentation medium substantially increases the production of the thionaphthomycins J and I at the expense of their chloro analogues H and A.