Chapter 19. In vitro studies of phenol coupling enzymes involved in vancomycin biosynthesis

Dong Bo Li1, Katharina Woithe, Nina Geib

  • 1Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Methods in Enzymology
|April 21, 2009
PubMed

Related Concept Videos

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Biosynthesis in Bacteria01:24

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
Production of Pharmaceuticals01:30

Production of Pharmaceuticals

Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
Phase II Reactions: Miscellaneous Conjugation Reactions01:19

Phase II Reactions: Miscellaneous Conjugation Reactions

Phase II biotransformations are detoxification mechanisms that conjugate xenobiotics with endogenous substances, neutralizing their toxicity.
A key example involves the conjugation of cyanide ions, which impair cellular respiration and alter hemoglobin into non-oxygen-carrying cyanmethemoglobin. To neutralize this threat, a sulfur atom from thiosulphate is transferred to the cyanide ion, catalyzed by the enzyme rhodanese, resulting in an inactive compound called thiocyanate. The production of...
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview01:27

Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview

Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig discovered the pinacol coupling reaction in 1859. It is a radical dimerization reaction and involves the reductive coupling of aldehydes or ketones in the presence of hydrocarbon solvent to yield vicinal diols.