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of the 5-C methyl group on TC054. The binding score of
TC054 also cannot explain the unexpected decreased in
antibacterial activity (Table 1).
In light of the finding in the activity of the newly synthe-
sized pyranmycins, we have learned valuable lessons.
First, a traditional strategy for drug development in-
volves identifying lead structural components (pharma-
cophores). Then, by combining these components on
the same scaffold, it is expected that an additional effect
from these components may lead to improved activity.14
Our results demonstrate that such an addition effect may
not always occur. As a result, synthetic methodologies
that can furnish compounds with more structural as-
pects for identifying leads are essential.
Second, as indicated in our molecular modeling results,
the binding (or fitting) of TC054, which has a ring III
branched-chain sugar, toward the rRNA target, is al-
most identical to that of the TC036. Therefore, there
must be other factors that could cause the dramatic de-
crease in antibacterial activity of TC054. Since amino-
glycosides exert their antimicrobial activity by binding
toward a cytosolic target (decoding region at A-site of
the 16S rRNA), understanding the process of how ami-
noglycosides are recruited by bacteria is essential. Addi-
tionally, from our experience3,15 and structures of other
unusual sugars in naturally occurring antibiotics,16–18
there are prevalent examples for the existence of methyl,
methoxy, methylamino, or dimethylamino groups,
which play key roles in the activity of these antibiotics.
As compared to hydroxyl and amino groups, the pres-
ence of a methyl group in the forms of methoxy, methyl-
amino, or dimethylamino groups will reduce the
solvation effect that may otherwise prevent the antibiot-
ics from entering the targeted sites. Perhaps, solvation is
another factor that deserves more investigation.
7. Zottola, M.; Rao, B. V.; Fraser-Reid, B. J. Chem. Soc.,
Chem. Commun. 1991, 969–970.
8. Lee, J.-C.; Tai, C.-A.; Hung, S.-C. Tetrahedron Lett. 2002,
43, 851–855.
9. Hydrolysis of the acetyl groups of 5, followed by regio-
selective tosylation at O-6 and azide substitution afforded
presumably an undesired 2,6-anhydro-L-idopyranose.
Attempts to use phenylthio 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-L-idopyr-
anoside were hampered by the low stereoselectivity of
glycosylation.
10. We obtained a complex mixture with a degraded disac-
charide as the major component when Tf2O/pyridine was
used for triflation followed by NaN3 for azide substitu-
tion. Hydrolysis of the acetyl groups of 18e, followed by
regioselective tosylation at O-600 and azide substitution
afforded presumably an undesired 200,600-anhydro-L-ido-
pyranose as the ring III component.
In conclusion, we have overcome synthetic challenges by
achieving a much more convenient synthesis of a
branched-chain sugar. The syntheses of three L-sugars
are reported. We have also demonstrated the practical
use of these unusual sugars.19 From our antibacterial re-
sults, new directions for the development of aminoglyco-
side antibiotics have also been suggested.
11. Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing
for bacteria that grow aerobically. Approved standard M7-
A5, and performance standards for antimicrobial disk
susceptibility tests. Approved standard M2-A7, National
Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Wayne, PA.
12. The score function was based on Amber 96 force-field as
implemented in HyperChem 7.0, and the solvent-accessi-
ble surface methodology to account for the hydration
effects. The program was developed for drug design, not
specifically for the calculation of absolute binding affinity.
Therefore, we look for the tendency in binding rather than
the meaning interpreted from the absolute numbers of
binding: the lower the number, the better the binding.
13. The MIC values were about 2-folds higher than the
reported values against S. aureus, for all the tested
compounds including neomycin B, presumably due to
the variation in the inoculated bacteria concentration.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge National Institutes of Health
(AI053138), the Utah State University (CURI Grant),
DARPA (DAAD 19-03-1-0050), and National Founda-
tion for Infectious Diseases (New Investigator Matching
Grant) for generous financial support.
References and notes
1. For reviewing: Haddad, J.; Kotra, L. P.; Mobashery, S. In
Glycochemistry Principles, Synthesis, and Applications;
Wang, P. G., Bertozzi, C. R., Eds.; Marcel Dekker: New
York, 2001; pp 353.