Genomics-driven derivatization of the bioactive fungal sesterterpenoid variecolin: Creation of an unnatural analogue with improved anticancer properties.

A biosynthetic gene cluster for the bioactive fungal sesterterpenoids variecolin () and variecolactone () was identified in ATCC 16872. Heterologous production of and was achieved in by expressing the sesterterpene synthase VrcA and the cytochrome P450 VrcB. Intriguingly, the replacement of VrcB with homologous P450s from other fungal terpenoid pathways yielded three new variecolin analogues (-).

Constructing Spatially Separated Cage-Like Z-scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Enhancing Photocatalytic H Evolution.

Heterojunctions coupled into micro-mesoscopic structures is an attractive strategy to optimize the light harvesting and carrier separation of semiconductor photocatalysts. A self-templating method of ion exchange is reported to synthesize an exquisite hollow cage-structured Ag S@CdS/ZnS that direct Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. On the ultrathin shell of the cage, Ag S, CdS, and ZnS with Zn-vacancies (V ) are arranged sequentially from outside to inside.