Researchers crack the synthetic code of rare molecules sought after in
drug development

Date:
December 6, 2021
Source:
Lund University
Summary:
A research team has succeeded in producing two molecules that are
otherwise only formed by microorganisms from extremely contaminated
wastewater in an abandoned mine in South Korea. The method, which
took four years to develop, could pave the way for new types
of drugs.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A research team at Lund University in Sweden has succeeded in producing
two molecules that are otherwise only formed by microorganisms from
extremely contaminated wastewater in an abandoned mine in South Korea. The method, which took four years to develop, could pave the way for new
types of drugs. The study is published in Journal of the American
Chemical Society.


========================================================================== Glionitrin A and B are two molecules with properties that make them
useful in drug development. However, researchers who want to use these molecules have faced an uphill battle for almost a decade.

Glionitrin A and B are natural products, and are produced a fungus
found in extremely contaminated acidic wastewater from an abandoned
South Korean mine.

Since the fungus only creates the molecules when triggered by specific
bacteria from the same sewage, it has proved difficult to produce .

"We have been working on this problem for four years. Every time we
thought we had a solution, the molecules revealed unexpected properties
that sent us back to the drawing board," says Daniel Strand, chemistry researcher at Lund University.

Despite the complex nature of the problem, the solution proved to be both simpler and more effective than the researchers thought. By developing
a new so-called asymmetric organocatalytic reaction, Daniel Strand and
his colleagues succeeded in the most inaccessible parts of the molecules.

"we thought the problem was solved, the molecule had one last surprise. It turned out that the real structure was the mirror image of we initially
thought was glionitrin A. So, all this time we had chased a molecule
that ," says Daniel Strand.

Complex natural products with unique properties such as glionitrin A
and B are important tools in develop.

Glionitrin A has shown antibiotic properties against resistant bacteria,
while glionitrin B makes cancer cells less to migrate. Being able to
produce the molecules synthetically helps researchers not only understand
how they work, but also improve their properties.

"There is a great need for new types of antibiotics, especially those
that can contribute to the fight against resistant bacteria. We expect
our results to inspire further development basic synthetic chemistry
but also to be used in drug development," concludes Daniel Strand.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Lund_University. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nicolas R. Koning, Anders P. Sundin, Daniel Strand. Total Synthesis
of (-
)-Glionitrin A and B Enabled by an Asymmetric Oxidative
Sulfenylation of Triketopiperazines. Journal of the American
Chemical Society, 2021; DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c10364 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211206113057.htm

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