Deazaflavin metabolite produced by endosymbiotic bacteria controls fungal host reproduction.

The endosymbiosis between the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus microsporus and the toxin-producing bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica represents a unique example of host control by an endosymbiont. Fungal sporulation strictly depends on the presence of endosymbionts as well as bacterially produced secondary metabolites. However, an influence of primary metabolites on host control remained unexplored. Recently, we discovered that M. rhizoxinica produces FO and 3PG-F420, a derivative of the specialized redox cofactor F420. Whether FO/3PG-F420 plays a role in the symbiosis has yet to be investigated. Here, we report that FO, the precursor of 3PG-F420, is essential to the establishment of a stable symbiosis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the genetic inventory to produce cofactor 3PG-F420 is conserved in the genomes of eight endofungal Mycetohabitans strains. By developing a CRISPR/Cas-assisted base editing strategy for M. rhizoxinica, we generated mutant strains deficient in 3PG-F420 (M. rhizoxinica ΔcofC) and in both FO and 3PG-F420 (M. rhizoxinica ΔfbiC). Co-culture experiments demonstrated that the sporulating phenotype of apo-symbiotic R. microsporus is maintained upon reinfection with wild-type M. rhizoxinica or M. rhizoxinica ΔcofC. In contrast, R. microsporus is unable to sporulate when co-cultivated with M. rhizoxinica ΔfbiC, even though the fungus was observed by super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to be successfully colonized. Genetic and chemical complementation of the FO deficiency of M. rhizoxinica ΔfbiC led to restoration of fungal sporulation, signifying that FO is indispensable for establishing a functional symbiosis. Even though FO is known for its light-harvesting properties, our data illustrate an important role of FO in inter-kingdom communication.

Whole cell hydride Meisenheimer complex biotransformation guided optimization of antimycobacterial benzothiazinones.

Nitrobenzothiazinones (BTZs) are potent active substances against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with currently two investigational drugs in clinical development for the treatment of tuberculosis. BTZs are the first examples for which a metabolic pathway towards transient hydride Meisenheimer complexes (HMC) has been shown in mammals, including humans. In this study, lead optimization efforts on BTZs are guided by the systematic evaluation of the HMC formation propensity combined with multiparameter assessment. For this purpose, a novel cell-based assay was specifically developed and fully implemented, and a library of 5- and 7-substituted BTZs was prepared to study substituent effects on the HMC formation. The multiparameter optimization revealed 5-methylated BTZs as the most preferred scaffolds, demonstrating a reduced HMC formation propensity combined with potent activity and good microsomal stability in vitro. In vivo experiments showed good systemic exposure upon oral administration and efficacy in a murine M. tuberculosis infection model. This study reports a qualified in vitro HMC assay, which not only enabled the selection of next-generation BTZs with improved pharmacokinetic properties but also allowed forecasting their in vivo metabolism.

Development of Predictive Classification Models for Whole Cell Antimycobacterial Activity of Benzothiazinones.

Nitrobenzothiazinones (BTZs) are a very potent class of antibiotics against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, relationships between their structural properties and whole cell activity remain poorly predictable. Herein, we present the synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of a diverse set of BTZs. High potency was predominantly achieved by piperidine and piperazine substitutions, whereupon three compounds were identified as promising candidates, showing preferable metabolic stability. Lack of correlation between potency and calculated binding energies suggested that target inhibition is not the only requirement to obtain suitable antimycobacterial agents. In contrast, prediction of whole cell activity class was successfully accomplished by extensively validated machine learning models. The performance of the superior model was further verified by >70% correct class predictions for a large set of reported BTZs. Our generated model is thus a key prerequisite to streamline lead optimization endeavors, particularly regarding the improvement of overall hit rates in whole cell antimycobacterial assays.

Regioselective Functionalization of 3-Hydroxy-pyridine Carboxylates by Neighboring Group Assistance.

Regioselective hydrolysis, transesterification, and aminolysis of unactivated, highly substituted pyridine esters were realized under mild conditions by employing neighboring group assisted catalysis. Excellent yields were achieved without active removal of the alcohol byproduct. Regioselective aminolysis had a considerable substrate scope ([hetero]aryl, alkyl and amino acid). A mechanism involving assistance by the deprotonated phenolic OH-group is suggested for hydrolysis and transesterification.

Total Synthesis of Nosiheptide.

Total synthesis of the bismacrocyclic thiopeptide antibiotic nosiheptide was achieved through the assembly of a fully functionalized linear precursor followed by consecutive macrocyclizations. Key features are a critical macrothiolactonization and a mild deprotection strategy for the 3-hydroxypyridine core. The natural product was identical to isolated authentic material in terms of spectral data and antibiotic activity.