Expanding the antibacterial selectivity of polyether ionophore antibiotics through diversity-focused semisynthesis.

Polyether ionophores are complex natural products capable of transporting cations across biological membranes. Many polyether ionophores possess potent antimicrobial activity and a few selected compounds have the ability to target aggressive cancer cells. Nevertheless, ionophore function is believed to be associated with idiosyncratic cellular toxicity and, consequently, human clinical development has not been pursued. Here, we demonstrate that structurally novel polyether ionophores can be efficiently constructed by recycling components of highly abundant polyethers to afford analogues with enhanced antibacterial selectivity compared to a panel of natural polyether ionophores. We used classic degradation reactions of the natural polyethers lasalocid and monensin and combined the resulting fragments with building blocks provided by total synthesis, including halogen-functionalized tetronic acids as cation-binding groups. Our results suggest that structural optimization of polyether ionophores is possible and that this area represents a potential opportunity for future methodological innovation.

Antiproliferative activity of ester derivatives of monensin A at the C-1 and C-26 positions.

Monensin A (MON) is a polyether ionophore antibiotic, which shows a wide spectrum of biological activity, including anticancer activity. A series of structurally diverse monensin esters including its C-1 esters (1-9), C-26-O-acetylated derivatives (10-15), and lactone (16) was synthesized and for the first time evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines with different drug-sensitivity level. All of the MON derivatives exhibited in vitro antiproliferative activity against cancer cells at micromolar concentrations. The majority of the compounds was able to overcome the drug resistance of LoVo/DX and MES-SA/DX5 cell lines. The most active compounds proved to be MON C-26-O-acetylated derivatives (10-15) which exhibited very good resistance index and high selectivity index.

Total synthesis of laidlomycin.

The synthesis of laidlomycin is described. With an established stereocontrolled synthetic route to the aldehyde 5, the known ß-keto phosphonate 4 was coupled with 5 and the resulting enone was subjected to a sequential hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation and equilibration process to effect the correct spiroketalization for the natural product. The stereogenic carbons were elaborated by desymmetrization for C12, allylation for C13, vanadyl-induced epoxidation for C16, Zn(BH4)2 reduction for C17, a chiral building block for C18 and C24, Shi epoxidation for C20 and C21, Myers' alkylation for C22, and thermodynamic control for C25.

Anti-proliferative activity of Monensin and its tertiary amide derivatives.

New tertiary amide derivatives of polyether ionophore Monensin A (MON) were synthesised and their anti-proliferative activity against cancer cell lines was studied. Very high activity (IC50=0.09 µM) and selectivity (SI=232) of MON against human biphenotypic myelomonocytic leukemia cell line (MV4-11) was demonstrated. The MON derivatives obtained exhibit interesting anti-proliferative activity, high selectivity index and also are able to break the drug-resistance of cancer cell line.

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Silybin Conjugates with Salinomycin and Monensin.

Aiming at development of multitarget drugs for the anticancer treatment, new silybin (SIL) conjugates with salinomycin (SAL) and monensin (MON) were synthesized, in mild esterification conditions, and their antiproliferative activity was studied. The conjugates obtained exhibit anticancer activity against HepG2, LoVo and LoVo/DX cancer cell lines. Moreover, MON-SIL conjugate exhibits higher anticancer potential and better selectivity than the corresponding SAL-SIL conjugate.

Predicted incorporation of non-native substrates by a polyketide synthase yields bioactive natural product derivatives.

The polyether ionophore monensin is biosynthesized by a polyketide synthase that delivers a mixture of monensins A and B by the incorporation of ethyl- or methyl-malonyl-CoA at its fifth module. Here we present the first computational model of the fifth acyltransferase domain (AT5mon ) of this polyketide synthase, thus affording an investigation of the basis of the relaxed specificity in AT5mon , insights into the activation for the nucleophilic attack on the substrate, and prediction of the incorporation of synthetic malonic acid building blocks by this enzyme. Our predictions are supported by experimental studies, including the isolation of a predicted derivative of the monensin precursor premonensin. The incorporation of non-native building blocks was found to alter the ratio of premonensins A and B. The bioactivity of the natural product derivatives was investigated and revealed binding to prenyl-binding protein. We thus show the potential of engineered biosynthetic polyketides as a source of ligands for biological macromolecules.

Selection of single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies from a hyperimmunized phage display library for the detection of the antibiotic monensin.

Concerns over the occurrence of the veterinary antibiotic monensin (MW 671Da) in animal food products and water have given rise to the need for a sensitive and rapid detection method. In this study, four monensin-specific single chain variable fragments (scFvs) were isolated from a hyperimmunized phage-displayed library originating from splenocytes of a mouse immunized with monensin conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The coding sequences of the scFvs were engineered in the order 5'-V(L)-linker-V(H)-3', where the linker encodes for Gly(10)Ser(7)Arg. Three rounds of selection were performed against monensin conjugated to chicken ovalbumin (OVA) and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), alternately. In the third round of selection, two different strategies, which differed in the number of washes and the concentration of the coating conjugates, were used to select for specific binders to monensin. A total of 376 clones from round two and three were screened for their specific binding to monensin conjugates and positive clones were sequenced. It was found that 80% of clones from round three contained a stop codon. After removing the stop codon by site-directed mutagenesis, ten binders with different amino acid sequences were subcloned into the vector pMED2 for soluble expression in Escherichia coli HB2151. Four of these scFvs bound to free monensin as determined using competitive fluorescence polarization assays (C-FPs). IC(50) values ranged from 0.031 and 231 microM. A cross-reactivity assay against salinomycin, lasalocid A, kanamycin and ampicillin revealed that the two best binders were highly specific to monensin.

Structural characterization and antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus of N-phenylamide of monensin A and its 1:1 complexes with monovalent cations.

The ability of N-phenylamide of monensin A (M-AM1) to form complexes with Li(+), Na(+) and K(+) cations is studied by ESI MS, (1)H and (13)C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and PM5 semi-empirical methods. ESI mass spectrometry indicates that M-AM1 forms complexes with the Li(+), Na(+) and K(+) cations of exclusively 1:1 stoichiometry which are stable up to cv = 90 V, and the formation of the complex with the Na(+) cation is strongly favoured. In the ESI MS spectra measured at cv = 110 V the fragmentation of the respective complexes, involving several dehydration steps, is observed. The spectroscopic studies show that the structures of M-AM1 and its complexes with Li(+), Na(+) and K(+) cations are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds in which OH groups are always involved. The CO amide group is shown to be engaged in the complexation process of each cation. However, there is a complex with K(+) cation in whose structure this CO amide group does not participate to a significant extent. The in vitro biological tests of M-AM1 amide have proved its good activity towards some strains of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE).

Synthesis, structure and antimicrobial activity of manganese(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of the polyether ionophore antibiotic Sodium Monensin A.

Mononuclear neutral manganese(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with the antibiotic Sodium Monensin A (Mon-Na, 1b) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of M(Mon-Na)2Cl2.H2O (M=Mn, 2; M=Co, 3) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes crystallize in monoclinic space group C2 with a tetrahedrally coordinated transition metal attached to oxygen atoms of deprotonated carboxyl groups of two Sodium Monensin molecules and two chloride ions. The sodium ion remains in the cavity of the ligand and cannot be replaced by Mn(II) or Co(II). The complexes were additionally characterized by different spectroscopic techniques (UV-Visible, EPR, FAB-MS). A preferable octahedral environment around the transition metal centers is observed in polar solvents while the complexes retain their tetrahedral structure in non-polar media. The antimicrobial activity of 1b, 2 and 3 was tested against Gram(+) and Gram(-) bacteria.

Spectroscopic and semiempirical studies of a proton channel formed by the methyl ester of monensin A.

Monensin A is an ionophore able to carry protons and cations through the cell membrane. Its methyl ester (MON1) and its hydrates have been studied in acetonitrile, and its deuterated analogue by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopies as well as by vapor pressure osmotic and PM5 semiempirical methods. Interestingly, these hydrates show new and unexpected biophysical and biochemical properties. The formation of the hydrates starts with a transfer of a proton from the O(IV)-H hydroxyl group of MON1 to an oxygen atom of a water molecule, which is subsequently hydrated by other water molecules forming the (MON1 + 3H(2)O) species. This hydrate exhibits a ringlike structure in which the water molecules form an almost linear hydrogen-bonded chain. Within this chain, the excess proton fluctuates very fast inside the water cluster as indicated by a continuous absorption in the FTIR spectra. The formation of the (MON1 + 3H(2)O) species is accompanied by a self-assembly process, leading to the formation of a proton channel made up of eight (MON1 + 3H(2)O) units with a length of 60 A, in which the proton can fluctuate over the whole distance. Semiempirical calculations suggest that due to the hydrophobic surface the channel can be incorporated readily in a lipid bilayer. This hypothetical new channel is thought to be able to transport protons through the cell membrane. Thus it is a suitable model for studying proton-transfer processes, and in addition, it may open interesting new fields of application.

Studies on chemical modification of monensin IX. Synthesis of 26-substituted monensins and their Na+ ion transport activity.

The C-26 modified monensin derivatives, 26-O-benzoylmonensin (3), 26-O-benzylmonensin (4) and 26-phenylaminomonensin (5) were prepared from monensin (1). Na+ ion transport activity through biological membrane and antibacterial activity of 3-5 were evaluated and compared with the activities reported for a 26-phenylurethane derivative (2). Among these compounds, 5 showed the largest Na+ ion transport and antibacterial activities. In these compounds, the formation of head-to-tail hydrogen bonds was suggested to be an important factor for Na+ ion transport and antibacterial activities.

[Transformation of natural products into more potent compounds: chemical modification of monensin].

Monensin (1) is a representative compound of polyether ionophore antibiotics, which selectively transport Na+ ions. In order to obtain potent Na+ ionophores, the modification of the carboxyl group of monensin was carried out to yield monensylamino acids (2) and monensylamino acid-1,29-lactones (3). The Na+ permeability of ion through the erythrocyte membrane of 2 and 3 was evaluated by the 23Na-NMR method. Compound 2 showed less Na+ ion transport activity than monensin, probably due to the lower lipophilicity caused by the conformational change of the chain moiety of the molecules. Although 3 showed higher lipophilisity than 1, 3 had no Na+ ion permeability, probably due to loss of the carboxyl group. As more lipophilic compounds possessing a carboxyl group was supposed to have more ion transport activity, 7-O-acylmonensins (8) and 7-O-alkylmonensins (11) were synthesized. Among these compounds, the value of Na+ ion permeability of 7-O-benzylmonensin (11c) was 1.4 time that of 1. Further investigation was carried out by preparing various 7-O-(substituted benzyl)monensins (13), and 7-O-(p-ethylbenzyl)monensin (13b) exhibited the largest Na+ ion permeability, about twice the value of 1. In order to convert monensin (1) to Ca2+ ionophore, 7-carboxylmethylmonensin (18) via protected 7-oxomonensin (15), and 25-carboxylmonensin (26) were prepared. In the course of the synthesis, 15 was clarified as a useful intermediate to give 7-amino and 7-alkyl derivatives. Ca2+ ion transport activities of 18 and 26 were determined by a CHCl3 liquid membrane system. 25-carboxylmonensin (26) showed 70% of the activity of Ca2+ ionophore, lasalocid A, and compound 26 could be the lead compound for the preparation of a new Ca2+ ionophore.

Studies on the chemical modification of monensin. II. Measurement of sodium ion permeability of monensylamino acids using sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

A technique to assay Na+ ions in cells is presented. Intracellular and extracellular Na+ ions in a suspension of guinea pig erythrocytes were conveniently determined by using sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance (23Na-NMR), in combination with two anionic shift reagents: Dy(TTHA)3- and Dy(PPPi)2(7-). Monensin (1), monensylalanine (2b), monensylserine (2c), and monensylphenylalanine (2d) induced large increases of intracellular Na+ ion concentration ([Nain]), while monensylglycine (2a), monensyltyrosine (2e), monensylaspartic acid (2f), and monensylglutamic acid (2g) showed slight increases. The values of initial increasing rate (Vi) of 2a-g were much smaller than that of 1. This fact was probably due to the lower lipophilicity of 2a-g than 1, because a good correlation was observed between Vi and Rm50 values of 1 and 2a-g. This lower lipophilicity is a consequence of conformational differences between 1 and 2a-g.

Isolation of novel antibiotics X-14667A and X-14667B from Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp. urethanofaciens and their characterization as 2-phenethylurethanes of monensins B and A.

Antibiotics X-14667A (1) and X-14667B (2) are novel monovalent polyether antibiotics of the spiroketal type isolated from fermented cultures of Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp. urethanofaciens together with monensin (3), its lower homolog, factor B (4) and 1,3-diphenethylurea (6). By a combination of microanalysis, mass spectrometry and 13C nmr, antibiotics X-14667A and B have been shown to be natural 2-phenethylurethanes of monensin B and A respectively. Both structures have been confirmed by reacting the appropriate monensin with 2-phenethylisocyanate to yield semi-synthetic compounds that are identical to the natural products.