• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.593-596
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• 1997

In the course of search antagonistic fungi from soil in green house, four kind of fungi (AF1, AF2, AF3, AF4) were isolated, which have activities against Phytophthora capsici, Botrytis cinera, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum and Fusarium oxysporum. The AF2 was identified according to the morphological description of Aspergillus terreus. This antagonistic fungus inhibiting various plant pathogens was effective to reduce disease incidence of cucumber seedlings caused by mixed inoculum of Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum and Fusarium oxysporum. Antifungal compound I was isolated and purified by fresh chromatography from A. terreus. The $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ assignment of compound I was achieved from two-dimensional $^1H-^1H\;COSY$, HMQC, HMBC with the add of homonuclear and heteronuclear double resonance experiment. The compound I was identified butyrolactone I (${\alpha}$-oxo-${\beta}$-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-${\gamma}$-(p-hydroxy-m-3,3-dimethyl-allylbenzyl)-${\gamma}$-methoxycarbonyl-${\gamma}$-butyrolactone, $C_{24}H_{24}O_7$, M.W.=424).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2006

A gene encoding a $\gamma-butyrolactone$ autoregulator receptor was cloned from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, and the biochemical characteristics, including the autoregulator specificity, were determined with the purified recombinant protein. Using primers designed for the conserved amino acid sequence of Streptomyces $\gamma-butyrolactone$ autoregulator receptors, a 120 bp S. erythraea DNA fragment was obtained by PCR. Southern and colony hybridization with the 120 bp fragment as a probe allowed to select a genomic clone of S. erythraea, pESG, harboring a 3.2 kb SacI fragment. Nucleotide sequencing analysis revealed a 615 bp open reading frame (ORF), showing moderate homology (identity, $31-34\%$; similarity, $45-47\%$) with the $\gamma-butyrolactone$ autoregulator receptors from Streptomyces sp., and this ORF was named seaR (Saccharopolyspora erythraea autoregulator receptor). The seaR/pET-3d plasmid was constructed to overexpress the recombinant SeaR protein (rSeaR) in Escherichia coli, and the rSeaR protein was purified to homogeneity by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, followed by DEAE-ion-exchange HPLC. The molecular mass of the purified rSeaR protein was 52 kDa by HPLC gel-filtration chromatography and 27 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that the rSeaR protein is present as a dimer. A binding assay with tritium-labeled autoregulators revealed that rSeaR has clear binding activity with a VB-C-type autoregulator as the most effective ligand, demonstrating for the first time that the erythromycin producer S. erythraea possesses a gene for the $\gamma-butyrolactone$autoregulator receptor.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.235-239
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• 1996

Six, heretofore undescribed, $5^I-Methyl-5^I-(5-Substituted uracil-1-ylmethyl)-2^I-oxo-3^I-methylenetetrahydrofurans(F, Cl, Br, l, CH_3, H)(6a-f)$were synthesized and evaluated against three cell lines (FM-3A, P-388 and U-937). For the preparation of .alpha.-methylene-.gamma.-butyrolactone bearing 5-substituted uracils (6a-f), the effcient Reformatsky type reaction was employed which involves the treatment of ethyl .alpha.(bromomethyl) acrylate and zinc with the respective 5-substituted uracil-1-ylacetones (5a-f). The acetone derivatives (5a-f) were directly obtained by the respective alkylation reaction of 5-substituted uracils with chloroacetone in the presence of $K_{2}$$CO_{3}$(or NaH). These lactone compounds 6a-f exhibited moderate to significant activity in all of the three cell lines, and 6b, 6c and 6e showed significant antitumor activities (inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}$) ranged from 1.3-3.8 .mu.g/ml.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

An antagonistic fungus inhibiting growth of various phytopathogenic fungi was isolated from greenhouse soils and identified. Mophological features of fruiting structures on potato dextrose agar and colorless globose to ovate heavy walled hyaline cells from the vegetative mycelium grown on MY20 agar indicate that this antagonist is Aspergillus terreus. The antagonistic activity is due to the production of antifungal compounds. An antifungal compound was purified from its culture filtrate using chloroform extraction, column chromatography, and thin layer chromatography. The purified antibiotic was effective to various phytopathogenic fungi and identified as butyrolactone I. $ED_{50}$ values measured by petri-plate assay through effective dosage(ED)-probit analysis were 9.7, 13.7, 23.3, 42.6 and 102.7 ppm on Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora capsici, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 1997

Ten, heretofore unreported, $ 5^I-methyl-5^I-[2-(5-substituted uracil-1-yl)ethyl)]-2^I-oxo-3^I$-methylenetetrahydrofurans (H, F, Cl, Br, I, $ CH_3$,$CF_3$,$CH_2CH_3$,$ CH=CH2$, SePh) (7a-j) were synthesized and evaluated against four cell lines (K-562, FM-3A, P-388 and U-937). For the preparation of ${\alpha}$-methylene-${\gamma}$-butyrolactone-linked to 5-substituted uracils (7a-j), the convenient Reformasky type reaction was employed which involves the treatment of ethyl ${\alpha}$-(bromomethyl)acrylate and zinc with the respective 1-(5-substituted uracil-1-yl)-3-butanone (6a-j). The 5-substituted uracil ketones (6a-j) were directly obtained by the respective Michael type reaction of vinyl methyl ketone with the $K_2CO_3$(or NaH)-treated 5-substituted uracils (5a-j) in the presence of acetic acid in the DMF solvent. The .alpha.-methylene-.gamma.-butyrolactone compounds showing the most significant antitumor activity are 7e, 7f, 7h and 7j (inhibitory concentration $(IC_50)$ ranging from 0.69 to $2.9 {\mu}g/ml$), while 7b, 7g and 7i have shown moderate to significant activity. The compounds 7a, 7c and 7d were found to be inactive. The synthetic intermediate compounds 6a-j were also screened and found marginal to moderate activity where compounds 6b and 6g showed significant activity $(IC_50:0.4~2.8 {\mu}g/ml)$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.164-167
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• 1998

Bis-${\gamma}$-lactones (1,2) having a perhydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-1,4-dione skeleton were designed as conformationally constrained diacylglycerol analogues. They were synthesized from D-apiose in 11 steps, and evaluated as $PKC-{\alpha}$ ligands by measuring their ability to displace bound $^3H$]PDBU from the enzyme. The compounds showed moderate binding affinities with $K_i$ values of 13.89 (${\pm}5.67$) ${\mu}M$ and 11.47 (${\pm}0.89$) ${\mu}M$, respectively. Their similar binding affinities indicate that these two bicyclic compounds were not effectively discriminated by $PKC-{\alpha}$ in terms of the direction of the side chain as other ligands built on similar bis-${\gamma}$-lactones.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2010

Costunolide is an active compound isolated from the stem bark of Magnolia sieboldii, and is considered a potential therapeutic for the treatment of various cancers. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism whereby costunolide induces the apoptosis of human leukemia cells. Using apoptosis analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results obtained during this study show that costunolide is a potent inducer of apoptosis and that it is triggered due to the premature activation of Cdc2. $G_1$-synchronized cells, which cannot undergo mitosis, were found to be more sensitive to costunolide, and Cdc2 mRNA levels were increased by costunolide treatment. Furthermore, the Cdk inhibitors, olomucine and butyrolactone I, were found to suppress costunolide-induced apoptosis. In addition, the PKC activator TPA rescued cells from cell death by costunolide, and this was prevented by the PKC inhibitor staurosporin. The present study suggests that costunolide induces the apoptosis of HL-60 leukemic cells by modulating cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc2.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2003

For screening of autoregulator receptor gene from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, PCR was performed with primers of receptor gene designed on the basis of amino acid sequences of autoregulator receptor proteins with known function. PCR products were subcloned into the BamHI site of pUC19 and transformed into the E. coli DH5$\alpha$. The isolated plasmid from transformant contained the fragment of 120 bp, which was detected on 2% gel after BamHI treatment. The insert, 120 bp PCR product, was confirmed as the expected internal segment of gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein by sequencing. Southern and colony hybridization using Saccha. erythraea chromosomal DNA were performed with the insert as probe. The plasmid (pEsg) having 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment from Saccha. erythraea is obtained. The 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment was sequenced by the dye terminator sequencing. The nucleotide sequence data was analyzed with GENETYX-WIN (ver 3.2) computer program and DNA database. frame analyses of the nucleotide sequence revealed a gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein which is a region including KpnI and SalI sites on 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment. The autoregulator receptor protein consisting of 205 amino acid was named EsgR by author. In comparison with known autoregulator receptor proteins, homology of EsgR showed above 30%.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2005

For screening of autoregulator receptor gene from Streptomyces longwoodensis, PCR was performed with primers of receptor gene designed on the basis of amino acid sequences of autoregulator receptor proteins with known function. PCR products were subcloned into the BamHIsite of pUC19 and transformed into the E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$. The isolated plasmid from transformant contained the fragment of 100 bp, which was detected on $2\%$ gel after BamHI treatment. The insert, 100 bp PCR product, was confirmed as the expected internal segment of gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein by sequencing. Southern and colony hybridizations with the 100 bp fragment as a probe allowed to select a genomic clone of S. longwoodensis, pSLT harboring a 4.4 kb SphI fragment. Nucleotide sequencing analyses revealed a 651 bp open reading frame(ORF) were isolated protein showing moderate homology ($35{\sim}46\%$) with the ${\Gamma}$-butyrolactone autoregulator receptors from Streptomyces sp., and this ORF was named sltR The sltR/pET-17b plasmid was constructed to overexpress the recombinant SltR protein (rSltR) in E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pLysS, and the rSltR protein was purified to homogeneity by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, and DEAE-5PW chromatography (HPLC). The molecular mass of the purified rSltR protein was 55 kDa by HPLC gel-filtration chromatography and 28 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating that the rSltR protein is present as a dimer. A binding assay with tritium-labeled autoregulators revealed that the rSltR has clear binding activity with a A-factor type autoregulator as the most effective ligand.