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Microorganisms produce a vast array of biologically active metabolites. Such compounds are applied by humans to positively influence their health and, therefore, natural products serve as drug leads for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. In this minireview, tools for the discovery and the production of potential drug leads are explained. A snapshot is provided, starting from the isolation of new producer strains, across genomic mining of (meta)genomes to identify biosynthetic gene clusters corresponding to natural products, toward heterologous expression to produce potential drug leads.

Nudibranchia, marine soft-bodied organisms, developed, due to the absence of a protective shell, different strategies to protect themselves against putative predators and fouling organisms. One strategy is to use chemical weapons to distract predators, as well as pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, these gastropods take advantage of the incorporation of chemical molecules. Thereby the original source of these natural products varies; it might be the food source, de novo synthesis from the sea slug, or biosynthesis by associated bacteria. These bioactive molecules applied by the slugs can become important drug leads for future medicinal drugs. To test the potential of the associated bacteria, the latter were isolated from their hosts, brought into culture and extracts were prepared and tested for antimicrobial activities. From 49 isolated bacterial strains 35 showed antibiotic activity. The most promising extracts were chosen for further testing against relevant pathogens. In that way three strains showing activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and one strain with activity against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), respectively, were identified. The obtained results indicate that the sea slug associated microbiome is a promising source for bacterial strains, which hold the potential for the biotechnological production of antibiotics.

An FAD-dependent monooxygenase encoding gene (SorbC) was cloned from Penicillium chrysogenum E01-10/3 and expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli. The enzyme efficiently performed the oxidative dearomatisation of sorbicillin and dihydrosorbicillin to give sorbicillinol and dihydrosorbicillinol respectively. Bioinformatic examination of the gene cluster surrounding SorbC indicated the presence of two polyketide synthase (PKS) encoding genes designated sorbA and sorbB. The gene sorbA-encodes a highly reducing iterative PKS while SorbB encodes a non-reducing iterative PKS which features a reductive release domain usually involved in the production of polyketide aldehydes. Using these observations and previously reported results from isotopic feeding experiments a new and simpler biosynthetic route to the sorbicillin class of secondary metabolites is proposed which is consistent with all reported experimental results.

Microorganisms produce a vast array of biologically active metabolites. Such compounds are applied by humans to positively influence their health and, therefore, natural products serve as drug leads for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. In this minireview, tools for the discovery and the production of potential drug leads are explained. A snapshot is provided, starting from the isolation of new producer strains, across genomic mining of (meta)genomes to identify biosynthetic gene clusters corresponding to natural products, toward heterologous expression to produce potential drug leads.

Piecing it together: Aspergillus niger produces kotanin by dimerization of the monomeric, polyketide-synthase-derived (PKS) 7-demethylsiderin. A combined approach, comprising bioinformatics and gene-deletion experiments, identified the biosynthetic cluster responsible for kotanin production. Homology modeling and substrate docking provide a rationale for the regio- and stereoselective phenol coupling reaction.

The mechanism of programming of iterative highly reducing polyketide synthases remains one of the key unsolved problems of secondary metabolism. We conducted rational domain swaps between the polyketide synthases encoding the biosynthesis of the closely related compounds tenellin and desmethylbassianin. Expression of the hybrid synthetases in Aspergillus oryzae led to the production of reprogrammed compounds in which the changes to the methylation pattern and chain length could be mapped to the domain swaps. These experiments reveal for the first time the origin of programming in these systems. Domain swaps combined with coexpression of two cytochrome P450 encoding genes from the tenellin biosynthetic gene cluster led to the resurrection of the extinct metabolite bassianin.

The fungus Trichoderma viride was isolated from the Caribbean sponge Agelas dispar, which was collected from waters around the island of Dominica. Its EtOAc extract, exhibiting mild radical scavenging properties, was mass cultivated and found to produce a new pyranone derivative, trichopyrone (1), and ten compounds, namely four sorbicillinoid polyketide derivatives, trichodermanone A-D (2 - 5), two hexaketide derivatives, rezishanone (6) and vertinolide (7), three known dodecaketides, trichodimerol (8), bislongiquinolide (trichotetronine, 9), and bisvertinol (10), as well as 2-furancarboxylic acid (11). The structures of all compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV and IR). The biological activities of all isolates were evaluated in a series of bioassays (radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial, inhibition of HIV-1 RT). The majority had very weak or no effects in the applied test systems

In this study, we determined the antioxidative potential of 15 marine macroalgae by measuring the photosynthetic efficiency under artificial oxidative stress after a 30-min exposure to a series of ascending H2O2 concentrations. Species exhibiting high maximum quantum yields (Fv/Fm values) were regarded as not susceptible towards H2O2 stress. In addition to the short-term stress experiments, the antioxidative defense systems (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) of selected algal species under longer exposure times to H2O2 were investigated. Species with striking photosynthetic activity under H2O2 stress were Chaetomorpha melagonium (Chlorophyta), showing 40% reduced Fv/Fm as compared to the control after 8 days of exposure to 20 mM H2O2. In Fucus distichus (Phaeophyta) Fv/Fm decreased to 50% of the control under the same exposure conditions. Polysiphonia arctica (Rhodophyta) exhibited highest Fv/Fm values with a reduction of only 25%, therefore possessing the highest antioxidative potential of the investigated species. In P. arctica the activities of the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the pool size of the antioxidant ascorbic acid were investigated. When exposed to different H2O2 concentrations (0–2 mM) over 6 days, the intrinsic activities of SOD and GR were stimulated. In a kinetic study over 8 days, the activity of antioxidative enzymes APX and CAT as well as ascorbic acid content were recorded. APX activity was much higher in H2O2-treated thalli at the end of the experiment than in the control, also CAT activity increased significantly with increasing H2O2 stress. In parallel, ascorbic acid content was reduced under high H2O2 concentrations. Furthermore, by using GC–MS techniques in P. arctica bromophenolic compounds with antioxidative properties were identified. This study shows that the measurement of the in vivo fluorescence of photosystem II is a suitable tool to determine the effect of oxidative stress on macroalgae. From these studies it is obvious that different algal species have varying strategies against oxidative stress which correlate with zonation on the shore.

A marine fungal isolate, identified as Acremonium sp., was mass cultivated and found to produce two novel hydroquinone derivatives, 7-isopropenylbicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene-2,5-diol (1) and 7-isopropenylbicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene-2,5-diol-5-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2). Compound 1 and its glucoside 2 possess a most unusual ring system. The new natural products (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-7-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)naphthalenone (3) and (3S,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-7-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenone (4) were obtained as a 1:0.8 mixture. 2-(1-Methylethylidene)pentanedioic acid (5) was isolated for the first time as a natural product and its structure proven by X-ray analysis. In addition to these compounds an inseparable mixture of three new isomeric compounds, pentanedioic acid 2-(1-methylethylidene)-5-methyl ester (6), pentanedioic acid 2-(1-methylethylidene)-1-methyl ester (7), and pentanedioic acid 2-(1-methylethenyl)-5-methyl ester (8), was also obtained. Isolated together with the new compounds were three known hydroquinone derivatives, 9, 10, and 11. The structures of all compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV, and IR). Each isolate was tested for its antioxidant properties, and compounds 1 and 9-11 were found to have significant activity.

A new biosynthetic pathway to the sorbicillinoid natural products is proposed based on the observation of oxidative dearomatisation of dihydrosorbicillin 10b., An FAD-dependent monooxygenase encoding gene (SorbC) was cloned from Penicillium chrysogenum E01-10/3 and expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli. The enzyme efficiently performed the oxidative dearomatisation of sorbicillin and dihydrosorbicillin to give sorbicillinol and dihydrosorbicillinol respectively. Bioinformatic examination of the gene cluster surrounding SorbC indicated the presence of two polyketide synthase (PKS) encoding genes designated sorbA and sorbB. The gene sorbA-encodes a highly reducing iterative PKS while SorbB encodes a non-reducing iterative PKS which features a reductive release domain usually involved in the production of polyketide aldehydes. Using these observations and previously reported results from isotopic feeding experiments a new and simpler biosynthetic route to the sorbicillin class of secondary metabolites is proposed which is consistent with all reported experimental results.

The in vivo activity of truncated forms of methylorcinaldehyde synthase shows that the synthase retains a hydrolytic release activity in the absence of reductive chain release and that chain-length is not controlled by the reductive release domain; experiments using a methyltransferase inhibitor suggest that methylation occurs prior to aromatisation.

The prevention of death in most cancer patients is dependenton understanding the mechanisms of cancer cell spread fromthe primary tumour to distant organ sites. Although thepathogenesis of metastasis is the subject of numerous studiesin basic and clinical research, the complex mechanisms thatmake a tumour cell metastatic are not well understood. Thedevelopment of metastases is a non-random process, wherethe implantation, invasion, survival, and growth of a singlecell or small numbers of cells can lead to morbidity anddeath.The sequential model for the development of metastasesinvolves tumour growth, neovascularization, and invasionat the primary sites, followed by penetration into lym-phatic and blood vessels or into body cavities. Malig-nant cells that loose cellular contacts with surroundingcells or extracellular matrix (ECM) can undergo pheno-typic change to greater motility. Subsequently, malignantcells can be released from the primary tumour and be dis-tributed throughout the body via the blood or lymphaticcirculation. To survive, the circulating tumour cells usu-ally have to adhere to the vessel walls of distant hostorgans, and eventually penetrate the wall to avoid bloodshear forces. Finally, the metastasizing cells have to survivethe host defence mechanisms and grow (Nicolson, 1988a,b)(see

Chemokinrezeptoren und insbesondere CXCR4, sind auf humanen HCC-Zellen exprimiert. Der einzige bekannte Ligand des CXCR4-Rezeptors, CXCL12, ist am sinusoidalen Endothel und in den Kupffer’schen Sternzellen ideal positioniert, um ein Homing zirkulierender Tumorzellen und deren Extravasation zu regulieren.

Formation of tumor cell adhesion and following extravasation are limiting steps in organ specific metastasis. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) plays a pivotal role in the intracellular signaling during cell adhesion and migration, which can be modulated by shear forces acting on circulating tumor cells. The intrinsic FAK inhibitor FRNK (FAK-related-non-kinase) was overexpressed in HEP G2 and HT-29 cells to investigate the role of FAK during early steps of metastasis. Static adhesion was not influenced by FRNK expression, whereas dynamic adhesion under flow conditions was dramatically reduced, apparent by significant reduced dynamic adhesion rates DAR (FRNK+: 12 ± 9 cells vs. FRNK-: 32 ± 10 cells; p 80%, p < 0.001) and complete inhibition of migration of the cells to the parenchyma. Our results indicate that FAK is involved in stabilization of cell adhesion on extracellular matrix in vitro and in vivo, which allows circulating tumor cells to resist the shear forces. This kinase is therefore involved in the regulation of rate limiting steps in distant metastasis formation.

Organ-specific tumor cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cell migration into host organs often involve integrin-mediated cellular processes that can be modified by environmental conditions acting on metastasizing tumor cells, such as shear forces within the blood circulation. Since the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) appears to be essential for the regulation of the integrin-mediated adhesive and migratory properties of tumor cells, its role in early steps of the metastatic cascade was investigated using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Human colon and hepatocellular carcinoma cells were used to study adhesive properties under static conditions and in a parallel plate laminar flow chamber in vitro. In addition, intravital fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate early interactions between circulating tumor cells and the microvasculature of potential target organs in vivo. Shear forces caused by hydrodynamic fluid flow induced Tyr-hyperphosphorylation of FAK in cell monolayers. Reduced expression of FAK or its endogenous inhibition by FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK) interfered with early adhesion events to extracellular matrix components under flow conditions. In contrast, tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells under these conditions was not affected. Furthermore, down-regulation of FAK inhibited metastatic cell adhesion in vivo within the liver sinusoids. In summary, FAK appears to be involved in early events of integrin-mediated adhesion of circulating carcinoma cells under fluid flow in vitro and in vivo. This kinase may take part in the establishment of definitive adhesive interactions that enable adherent tumor cells to resist fluid shear forces, resulting in an organ-specific formation of distant metastases.

The fungus Epicoccum sp., was isolated from the marine brown alga Fucus vesiculosus. After cultivation the fungus was investigated for its secondary metabolite content, and found to contain the new natural product 4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methylphthalide (1, epicoccone), together with 5-(acetoxymethyl)-furan-2-carboxylic acid (2), furan-2-carboxylic acid (3), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furan-2-carboxylic acid (4), (-)-(3 R,4 S)-4-hydroxymellein (5), and (-)-(3 R)-5-hydroxymellein (6). The structures of all compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV, optical rotation and IR). Each isolate was tested for its antioxidative properties. Compound 1 was found to be potently active, showing 95 % DPPH radical scavenging effects at 25 microg/mL. Compound 1 also inhibited the peroxidation of linolenic acid in the TBARS assay (62 % inhibition at 37 microg/mL).

Six new tetraprenyltoluquinol derivatives (1-6), two new triprenyltoluquinol derivatives (7 and 8), and two new tetraprenyltoluquinone derivatives (9 and 10) were isolated from the brown alga Cystoseira crinita Duby together with four known tetraprenyltoluquinol derivatives (11-14). All structures were elucidated by employing spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, and IR). Each compound was evaluated for its antioxidative properties in the TBARS and DPPH assay, and compounds 1, 2, 6, and 10-14 were additionally assessed in the TEAC and PCL assay. Hydroquinones were found to have powerful antioxidant activity.

This review discusses the biosynthesis of natural products generated by iterative hybrid polyketide synthases–non ribosomal peptide synthetases (PKS–NRPS) from fungi and bacteria, the programming of the enzymes and bioengineering approaches.

A novel polyketide synthase nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) genecluster was isolated from Beauveria bassiania 992.05. The cluster encodes the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the new 2-pyridone desmethylbassianin (DMB). DMB is structurally related to tenellin from B. bassiana 110.25 but it differs in chain length and degree of methylation. Despite these programming differences the 20 kb DMB biosynthetic genecluster has 90% sequence identity to the tenellingenecluster. Silencing of the PKS-NRPS gene, dmbS, resulted in total loss of DMB production. Co-expression of dmbS in Aspergillus oryzae with its cognate trans-actingenoyl reductase gene, dmbC, produced predesmethylbassianin A, the first isolable precursor in the biosynthetic pathway. Expression of dmbS with the tenellintrans-actingenoyl reductase gene, tenC, also resulted in the production of predesmethylbassianin A. Co-expression of tenS, the tenellin PKS-NRPS, with dmbC produced pretenellin A. These results show that the tenS and dmbS encoded PKS-NRPS contains the programme for polyketide biosynthesis, while the trans-actingERs appear to control the fidelity of the programme. Expression of a hybrid synthetase in which the PKS of the tenellin synthetase was fused to the NRPS from DMBS produced prototenellins A to C, indicating that the NRPS does not act as a selecting gatekeeper to affect the PKS programme.