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From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Benhamycin, novel alkaloid from terrestrial Streptomyces sp
Mohamed Shaaban1, Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz
1Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Division of Pharmaceutical Industries, National Research Centre, Dokki-Cairo, Egypt. mshaaba@yahoo.com
Natural Product Research
|November 8, 2007
Summary
A novel alkaloid, benhamycin, was discovered in Streptomyces bacteria. This compound and its derivatives show moderate activity against various bacteria and fungi.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Microorganisms are a rich source of novel bioactive compounds.
- Streptomyces species are known producers of diverse secondary metabolites with pharmacological potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel bioactive natural compounds from terrestrial Streptomyces sp. NR12.
- To determine the chemical structure of the newly discovered alkaloid, benhamycin.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the isolated compounds.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of compounds using chromatographic techniques.
- Structure elucidation using extensive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments (1D and 2D) and Mass Spectrometry (MS, HR-MS).
- Bioactivity screening against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.
Main Results:
- A novel pentacyclic alkaloid, benhamycin (1), was isolated and structurally characterized.
- Known metabolites including uracil, thymine, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were also identified.
- The crude extract of Streptomyces sp. NR12 exhibited moderate activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.
Conclusions:
- Benhamycin is a novel alkaloid with a unique pentacyclic aromatic structure.
- The terrestrial Streptomyces sp. isolate NR12 produces benhamycin and other known metabolites.
- The strain extract demonstrates potential as a source of antimicrobial and antifungal agents.
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