Structure and Biosynthesis of Isatropolones, Bioactive Amine-Scavenging Fluorescent Natural Products from Streptomyces Gö66.

The natural products isatropolone A-C (1-3) were reisolated from Streptomyces Gö66, with 1 and 3 showing potent activity against Leishmania donovani. They contain a rare tropolone ring derived from a type II polyketide biosynthesis pathway. Their biosynthesis was elucidated by labeling experiments, analysis of the biosynthesis gene cluster, its partial heterologous expression, and structural characterization of various intermediates.

Crystal Structures of Actinomycin D and Actinomycin Z.

Untwinned single crystals of the actinomycins D and Z that diffracted to atomic resolution could be obtained for the first time. Low-temperature data collection and a new ab initio method for solving the structures led to precise crystal structures which showed, for example, that the unit cell of actinomycin D contains three molecules, two of which are present in the form of a hydrogen-bridged dimer related by a pseudo-twofold axis (see picture).