Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG
Published on: May 16, 2017
The synthesis and biological testing of bacilysin analogues
Keith Robertson1, Cormac D Murphy, Francesca Paradisi
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract:
A series of compounds based on the structure of bacilysin were synthesised and tested for antibacterial activity. The key steps in the syntheses are the coupling of an iodide to a diketopiperazine (DKP) and mono-lactim ether scaffold, respectively. The diastereoselectivity of the coupling reactions was dependant on the scaffold, with selectivity for DKP of about 4:1 and mono-lactim ether exceeding 98:2. Subsequent elaboration of the compounds to give open chain dipeptides and DKPs that mimic the structure of bacilysin but substitute the epoxy ketone for a saturated or unsaturated ketone is described. Overall yield from coupling to final product was between 5 and 21 %, with the yield of the saturated products notably higher. The open chain dipeptides demonstrated moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Related Concept Videos
Synthetic Biology
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Production of Pharmaceuticals
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Production of Antibiotics
Production of Biopesticides