Chemical Exchanges between Multilateral Symbionts

Org Lett. 2021 Mar 5;23(5):1648-1652. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c00068. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Abstract

Herein is a report on the molecular exchange occurring between multilateral symbiosis partners-a tit-for-tat exchange that led to the characterization of two new metabolites, conocandin B (fungal-derived) and dentigerumycin F (bacterial-derived). The structures were determined by NMR, mass spectrometry, genomic analysis, and chemical derivatizations. Conocandin B exhibits antimicrobial activity against both the bacterial symbionts of fungus-growing ant and human pathogenic strains by selectively inhibiting FabH, thus disrupting fatty acid biosynthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / chemistry*
  • Fungi / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Symbiosis / physiology*