Synthesis, Structure-Activity Relationship Study, Bioactivity, and Nephrotoxicity Evaluation of the Proposed Structure of the Cyclic Lipodepsipeptide Brevicidine B

J Nat Prod. 2024 Apr 26;87(4):764-773. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00876. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Abstract

The brevicidines represent a novel class of nonribosomal antimicrobial peptides that possess remarkable potency and selectivity toward highly problematic and resistant Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. A recently discovered member of the brevicidine family, coined brevicidine B (2), comprises a single amino acid substitution (from d-Tyr2 to d-Phe2) in the amino acid sequence of the linear moiety of brevicidine (1) and was reported to exhibit broader antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative (MIC = 2-4 μgmL-1) and Gram-positive (MIC = 2-8 μgmL-1) pathogens. Encouraged by this, we herein report the first total synthesis of the proposed structure of brevicidine B (2), building on our previously reported synthetic strategy to access brevicidine (1). In agreement with the original isolation paper, pleasingly, synthetic 2 demonstrated antimicrobial activity toward Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC = 4-8 μgmL-1). Interestingly, however, synthetic 2 was inactive toward all of the tested Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Substitution of d-Phe2 with its enantiomer, and other hydrophobic residues, yields analogues that were either inactive or only exhibited activity toward Gram-negative strains. The striking difference in the biological activity of our synthetic 2 compared to the reported natural compound warrants the re-evaluation of the original natural product for purity or possible differences in relative configuration. Finally, the evaluation of synthetic 1 and 2 in a human kidney organoid model of nephrotoxicity revealed substantial toxicity of both compounds, although 1 was less toxic than 2 and polymyxin B. These results indicate that modification to position 2 may afford a strategy to mitigate the nephrotoxicity of brevicidine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Depsipeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Depsipeptides / chemistry
  • Depsipeptides / pharmacology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Depsipeptides
  • Peptides, Cyclic