To obtain therapeutically effective new antibiotics, we first searched for bacterial culture supernatants with antimicrobial activity in vitro and then performed a secondary screening using the silkworm infection model. Through further purification of the in vivo activity, we obtained a compound with a previously uncharacterized structure and named it 'lysocin E'. Lysocin E interacted with menaquinone in the bacterial membrane to achieve its potent bactericidal activity, a mode of action distinct from that of any other known antibiotic, indicating that lysocin E comprises a new class of antibiotic. This is to our knowledge the first report of a direct interaction between a small chemical compound and menaquinone that leads to bacterial killing. Furthermore, lysocin E decreased the mortality of infected mice. To our knowledge, lysocin E is the first compound identified and purified by quantitative measurement of therapeutic effects in an invertebrate infection model that exhibits robust in vivo effects in mammals.

Cu-mediated C(sp(2))-N bond formation has received intense interest recently, and has been applied to the total synthesis of a wide variety of structurally complex natural products. This review covers the synthetic assembly of peptide natural products in which Cu-mediated enamide formation is the key transformation. The total syntheses of cyclopeptide alkaloids, pacidamycin D, and yaku'amide A exemplify the versatility of the Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction in comparison to other synthetic methods.

Genome mining is a powerful method for finding novel secondary metabolites. In our study on the biosynthetic gene cluster for the cyclic octapeptides surugamides A-E (inhibitors of cathepsin B), we found a putative gene cluster consisting of four successive non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, surA, surB, surC, and surD. Prediction of amino acid sequence based on the NRPSs and gene inactivation revealed that surugamides A-E are produced by two NRPS genes, surA and surD, which were separated by two NRPS genes, surB and surC. The latter genes are responsible for the biosynthesis of an unrelated peptide, surugamide F. The pattern of intercalation observed in the sur genes is unprecedented. The structure of surugamide F, a linear decapeptide containing one 3-amino-2-methylpropionic acid (AMPA) residue, was determined by spectroscopic methods and was confirmed by solid-phase peptide synthesis.

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands impart differing degrees of signaling in the G-protein and arrestin pathways, in phenomena called “biased signaling”. However, the mechanism underlying the biased signaling of GPCRs is still unclear, although crystal structures of GPCRs bound to the G protein or arrestin are available. In this study, we observed the NMR signals from methionine residues of the μ-opioid receptor (μOR) in the balanced- and biased-ligand-bound states. We found that the intracellular cavity of μOR exists in an equilibrium between closed and multiple open conformations with coupled conformational changes on the transmembrane helices 3, 5, 6, and 7, and that the population of each open conformation determines the G-protein- and arrestin-mediated signaling levels in each ligand-bound state. These findings provide insight into the biased signaling of GPCRs and will be helpful for development of analgesics that stimulate μOR with reduced tolerance and dependence.

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands impart differing degrees of signaling in the G-protein and arrestin pathways, in phenomena called "biased signaling". However, the mechanism underlying the biased signaling of GPCRs is still unclear,although crystal structures of GPCRs bound to the Gprotein or arrestin are available.I nt his study,w eo bserved the NMR signals from methionine residues of the m-opioid receptor (mOR) in the balanced-and biased-ligand-bound states.Wefound that the intracellular cavity of mOR exists in an equilibrium between closed and multiple open conformations with coupled conformational changes on the transmembrane helices 3, 5, 6, and 7, and that the population of eacho pen conformation determines the G-protein-and arrestin-mediated signaling levels in each ligand-bound state.T hese findings provideinsight into the biased signaling of GPCRs and will be helpful for development of analgesics that stimulate mOR with reduced tolerance and dependence.