Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
Published on: December 27, 2016
Isolation, structure and biological activities of platencin A(2)-A(4) from Streptomyces platensis
Chaowei Zhang1, John Ondeyka, Lisa Dietrich
1Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
Abstract:
Natural products serve as a great reservoir for chemical diversity and are the greatest source for antibacterial agents. Recent discoveries of platensimycin and platencin as inhibitors of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes supplied new chemical scaffolds for potential antibacterial agents to overcome resistant pathogens. Discovery of natural congeners augment chemical modification in understanding of structure-activity relationship (SAR). Chemical and biological screening of the extracts led to isolation of three hydroxylated analogs of platencin. The C-12, C-14 and C-15 hydroxylated analogs showed attenuated activities which provided significant understanding of functional tolerance in the diterpenoid portion of the molecule. A truncated and oxidized C-13 natural congener was isolated which suggested direct intermediacy of ent-copalyl diphosphate for the biosynthesis of platensimycins and platencins.
Related Concept Videos
Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures
Cytoskeletal Linker Proteins - Plakins
Production of Antibiotics
Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes
Biofilms
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

