Entecavir combined with furin inhibitor simultaneously reduces hepatitis B virus replication and e antigen secretion.

BACKGROUND: The antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection pursues the dual goals, virological response (undetectable serum HBV DNA) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) serological response (serum HBeAg loss/seroconversion). It is relatively difficult, however, to realize the serological response, especially for nucleotide/nucleoside analogs. Furin, a proprotein convertase, is involved in HBeAg maturation. The suppression of furin using inhibitors accordingly reduces HBeAg secretion, but possibly enhances HBV replication. For these reasons, the strategy based on the combination of nucleoside analog entecavir (ETV) and furin inhibitors to inhibit HBV replication and HBeAg secretion simultaneously were studied here. METHODS: The suppression of furin was performed using inhibitors decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone (CMK) and hexa-D-arginine (D6R) or the expression of furin inhibitory prosegment. The influence of furin suppression on HBV replication and the effect of CMK combined with nucleoside analog entecavir (ETV) on HBV replication and HBeAg secretion was investigated in HepG2.2.15 cells. HBeAg level in media was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intracellular viral antigens and HBV DNA were detected using Western and Southern blotting analyses, respectively. RESULTS: CMK, D6R and the expression of inhibitory prosegment all significantly reduced HBeAg secretion, but only CMK enhance HBV replication. Concordantly, only CMK post-transcriptionally accumulated cytosolic HBV replication-essential hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The HBcAg-accumulating effect of CMK was further found to be resulted from its redundant inhibitory effect on the trypsin-like activity of cellular proteasomes that are responsible for HBcAg degradation. Moreover, the viral replication-enhancing effect of CMK was abrogated by ETV and ETV combined with CMK reduced HBV replication and HBeAg secretion simultaneously. CONCLUSION: The suppression of furin itself does not enhance HBV replication. Nucleotide/nucleoside analogs combined with furin inhibitors may be a potential easy way to realize the dual goals of the antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B in the future.

Cytotoxic Spliceostatins from Burkholderia sp. and Their Semisynthetic Analogues.

The spliceostatin class of natural products was reported to be potent cytotoxic agents via inhibition of the spliceosome, a key protein complex in the biosynthesis of mature mRNA. As part of an effort to discover novel leads for cancer chemotherapy, we re-examined this class of compounds from several angles, including fermentation of the producing strains, isolation and structure determination of new analogues, and semisynthetic modification. Accordingly, a group of spliceostatins were isolated from a culture broth of Burkholderia sp. FERM BP-3421, and their structures identified by analysis of spectroscopic data. Semisynthesis was performed on the major components 4 and 5 to generate ester and amide derivatives with improved in vitro potency. With their potent activity against tumor cells and unique mode of action, spliceostatins can be considered potential leads for development of cancer drugs.

Benzhydrylquinazolinediones: novel cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha inhibitors with improved physicochemical properties.

The synthesis and optimization of a class of trisubstituted quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione cPLA(2)alpha inhibitors are described. Utilizing pharmacophores that were found to be important in our indole series, we discovered inhibitors with reduced lipophilicity and improved aqueous solubility. These compounds are active in whole blood assays, and cell-based assay results indicate that prevention of arachidonic acid release arises from selective cPLA(2)alpha inhibition.

Reassessing the structure of pyranonigrin.

Fermentation extracts of the marine fungus Aspergillus niger LL-LV3020 were found to have relevant activity in a number of assays. Chemical screening of the extracts revealed that this organism produced numerous secondary metabolites in addition to its principal metabolite, citric acid. The compound with the most significant UV peak was isolated and its structure elucidated. Physical data suggested that this compound is identical with pyranonigrin A (1); however, our structure elucidation led to a different assignment than previously reported. On the basis of analysis of all data, we propose a correction to the structure of pyranonigrin A. Its absolute configuration was determined by electronic circular dichroism measurements in comparison with theoretical values calculated via ab initio time-dependent density functional theory and assigned as (7R)-3,7-dihydroxy-2-[(1E)-prop-1-enyl]-6,7-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrrole-4,5-dione.

Production of fungal antibiotics using polymeric solid supports in solid-state and liquid fermentation.

The use of inert absorbent polymeric supports for cellular attachment in solid-state fungal fermentation influenced growth, morphology, and production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Two filamentous fungi exemplified the utility of this approach to facilitate the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds. Cylindrocarpon sp. LL-Cyan426 produced pyrrocidines A and B and Acremonium sp. LL-Cyan416 produced acremonidins A-E when grown on agar bearing moist polyester-cellulose paper and generated distinctly different metabolite profiles than the conventional shaken or stationary liquid fermentations. Differences were also apparent when tenfold concentrated methanol extracts from these fermentations were tested against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and zones of inhibition were compared. Shaken broth cultures of Acremonium sp. or Cylindrocarpon sp. showed complex HPLC patterns, lower levels of target compounds, and high levels of unwanted compounds and medium components, while agar/solid support cultures showed significantly increased yields of pyrrocidines A and B and acremonidins A-E, respectively. This method, mixed-phase fermentation (fermentation with an inert solid support bearing liquid medium), exploited the increase in surface area available for fungal growth on the supports and the tendency of some microorganisms to adhere to solid surfaces, possibly mimicking their natural growth habits. The production of dimeric anthraquinones by Penicillium sp. LL-WF159 was investigated in liquid fermentation using various inert polymeric immobilization supports composed of polypropylene, polypropylene cellulose, polyester-cellulose, or polyurethane. This culture produced rugulosin, skyrin, flavomannin, and a new bisanthracene, WF159-A, after fermentation in the presence and absence of polymeric supports for mycelial attachment. The physical nature of the different support systems influenced culture morphology and relative metabolite yields, as determined by HPLC analysis and measurement of antimicrobial activity. The application of such immobilized-cell fermentation methods under solid and liquid conditions facilitated the discovery of new antibiotic compounds, and offers new approaches to fungal fermentation for natural product discovery.

Culicinin D, an antitumor peptaibol produced by the fungus Culicinomyces clavisporus, strain LL-12I252.

A group of new 10mer linear peptides, designated culicinins A-D (1-4), was isolated from the fermentation broth of the entomopathogenic fungus Culicinomyces clavisporus, strain LL-12I252. The structures of the culicinins were determined by a combination of 2D NMR and MS analysis. The major compound, culicinin D (4), exhibited selective inhibitory activity against PTEN-negative MDA468 tumor cells. Studies on the 3D structure of 4 using NOE data and computer modeling revealed a dominant conformation of the right-handed helix.

Lichenicolins A and B, new bisnaphthopyrones from an unidentified lichenicolous fungus, strain LL-RB0668.

Lichenicolous fungus LL-RB0668 was isolated from a processed lichen thallus on a modified Lilly-Barnett solid medium. Two new bisnaphthopyrone compounds, lichenicolins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the culture broth of this organism fermented on a rice-based solid medium. These results demonstrate that lichen-associated fungi potentially are a good resource for new bioactive natural products for current screening programs.

Mannopeptimycin esters and carbonates, potent antibiotic agents against drug-resistant bacteria.

A series of ester and carbonate derivatives of the glycopeptide mannopeptimycin alpha (1) with potent activity against G+ bacteria, including the methicillin-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, was synthesized. The SAR data obtained from natural and semisynthetic compounds demonstrated the importance of a hydrophobic group in the terminal mannosyl moiety for antibacterial activity.

Cytosporacin, a highly unsaturated polyketide: application of the ACCORD-ADEQUATE experiment to the structural determination of natural products.

Cytosporacin (1), a novel antibacterial polyketide containing naphthopyranone and isochromandione moieties, was isolated from the fermentation broth of the fungus Cytospora rhizophorae. A (1)H-detected ACCORD-ADEQUATE pulse sequence that distinguished (2)J(CH) from (3)J(CH) correlations provided critical information for structural determination. NOE studies established the relative configuration and revealed the presence of two rotamers. A biosynthetic (13)C-labeling experiment indicated that cytosporacin was derived from acetate origin.

Mannopeptimycins, novel antibacterial glycopeptides from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, LL-AC98.

A series of novel antibiotics with activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci has been purified, and their structures have been characterized using spectroscopic analyses and chemical conversions. These antibiotics, designated mannopeptimycins alpha-epsilon (1-5), are glycosylated cyclic hexapeptides containing two stereoisomers of an unprecedented amino acid, alpha-amino-beta-[4'-(2'-iminoimidazolidinyl)]-beta-hydroxypropionic acid (Aiha), as a distinguishing feature. The cyclic peptide core of these antibiotics is attached to a mannosyl monosaccharide moiety in 2 and to mannosyl monosaccharide and disaccharide moieties in 1, 3, 4, and 5. The presence and position of an isovaleryl group in the terminal mannose (Man-B) in 3-5 are critical for retaining antibacterial potency.