Branched Linkers for Homogeneous Antibody-Drug Conjugates: How Long Is Long Enough?

Homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) exhibit significantly improved pharmacological properties compared to their heterogeneous counterparts. Site-specific conjugation of the payload to the IgG required for homogeneity can be achieved using enzymes. One example is microbial transglutaminase (MTGase), which can selectively perform transamidation on the Q295 residue of human Fc when N297 glycans are removed.

Molecular Decoration and Unconventional Double Bond Migration in Irumamycin Biosynthesis.

Irumamycin (Iru) is a complex polyketide with pronounced antifungal activity produced by a type I polyketide (PKS) synthase. Iru features a unique hemiketal ring and an epoxide group, making its biosynthesis and the structural diversity of related compounds particularly intriguing. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) to uncover the mechanisms underlying Iru formation.

Mining Translation Inhibitors by a Unique Peptidyl-Aminonucleoside Synthetase Reveals Cystocin Biosynthesis and Self-Resistance.

Puromycin (Puro) is a natural aminonucleoside antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis by its incorporation into elongating peptide chains. The unique mechanism of Puro finds diverse applications in molecular biology, including the selection of genetically engineered cell lines, in situ protein synthesis monitoring, and studying ribosome functions. However, the key step of Puro biosynthesis remains enigmatic.

Abundance of Tumor-Infiltrating B Cells in Human Epithelial Malignancies.

Cancer is a major global health problem. The type of malignant neoplasm and the potency of the immune response against tumors are two of the key factors influencing the outcome of the disease. The degree of tumor infiltration by lymphocytes plays an important role in antitumor response development, generally correlating with a favorable prognosis of treatment for certain cancers.

Reconstruction of the Reaction of Andalusicin Lantibiotic Modification by Lanthionine Synthetase AncKC in a Heterologous Escherichia coli System.

The increasing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics makes it a necessity that we search for new antimicrobial agents. Due to their genetically encoded nature, peptides are promising candidates for new antimicrobial drugs. Lantipeptide andalusicin exhibits significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, making it a promising scaffold for the development of DNA-encoded libraries of lantibiotics.