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Cutting Edge Organic Synthesis and Chemical Biology of Bioactive Molecules The Shape of Organic Synthesis To Come Yuichi Kobayashi
Cutting Edge Organic Synthesis and Chemical Biology of Bioactive Molecules The Shape of Organic Synthesis To Come Yuichi Kobayashi
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Yuichi Kobayashi Editor
Cutting-Edge
Organic Synthesis
and Chemical
Biology of Bioactive
Molecules
The Shape of Organic Synthesis to Come
Cutting-Edge Organic Synthesis and Chemical
Biology of Bioactive Molecules
Yuichi Kobayashi
Editor
Cutting-Edge Organic
Synthesis and Chemical
Biology of Bioactive
Molecules
The Shape of Organic Synthesis to Come
Editor
Yuichi Kobayashi
Department of Biotechnology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yokohama, Japan
This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721,
Singapore
Preface
v
vi Preface
vii
viii Contents
ix
x List of Figures
xv
xvi List of Schemes
xxv
Chapter 1
Microbial Fraction Library: A Screening
Source for Drug Discovery
Abstract Natural products are an important source for drug screening because of
their diverse chemical properties and biological activities. However, there are sev-
eral drawbacks in this field such as the duplicate isolation of previously reported
metabolites and the inherent difficulty of obtaining a pure compound with signifi-
cant bioactivity, which requires considerable amount of work, time, and resources.
Researchers are continuously devising ways to efficiently discover and isolate novel
compounds by developing new screening and sample preparation methods. In this
chapter, the current situation of microbial product research is described by introduc-
ing screening and sample preparation methods with focus on fraction libraries
including our own strategy and discoveries.
1 Introduction
Natural products have been used as a source for the screening of drugs and drug
leads [1]. In particular, microbial secondary metabolites not only have extensive
structural diversity but also various biological activities, many of which have been
developed as drugs, pesticides, and agrochemicals [2–4]. They also have an impor-
tant role in chemical biology studies as bioprobes, which are chemical tools for the
investigation of biological functions [5, 6]. Although the versatility of natural prod-
ucts holds promise for drug discovery research, in reality, it accompanies several
challenges. A major difficulty lies in the sample screening and the isolation and
purification of compounds from natural sources such as microbial culture broths
and plant extracts.
The screening methods of natural products are divided into two approaches: bio-
logical and chemical screenings (Fig. 1.1, Table 1.1). Biological screening is based
on a biological activity test, for example, antimicrobial activity or cytotoxicity
against tumor cells, and focuses on searching biologically active compounds. Using
a biological screening throughout the separation process of natural sources, such as
a microbial broth, to isolate metabolites with specific activity is called activity-
guided isolation. The emergence of high-throughput screening (HTS) technology
Natural sources
(broths/extracts)
Biological Chemical
screening screening
Phenotypic Target-based
LC/MS NMR
screening screening
has greatly improved the speed of biological screening in terms of the large number
of samples that can be tested in a single run. Nevertheless, such large number of
samples does not guarantee the discovery of first-in-class drug leads. For example,
a synthetic compound library created via combinatorial chemistry is commonly
applied to HTS to secure a large set of compounds; however, this does not assure
structural diversity compared to natural products and may contain unsuitable com-
pounds as drug candidates. In addition, not all samples can be easily applied to the
HTS format, especially natural products, because it is difficult to maintain a large
number of purified and high-quality sample set (Table 1.2) [7, 8]. On the other hand,
chemical screening is a structure-oriented approach that focuses on properties that
give information about compound structure such as UV and IR absorption spectra,
molecular weight, and other spectroscopic data. The corresponding spectroscopic
techniques are spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/
MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The major drawback of this approach
is the discovery of new compounds without significant bioactivity. Moreover,
whether implementing biological or chemical screening, the isolation process
entails several steps such as extraction, partition, and possibly many types of chro-
matography including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on nor-
mal- and reversed-phase modes, to obtain a pure compound. Also, the limited
amount of isolated compounds oftentimes hinders their full structural and bioactiv-
ity characterization. Clearly, the whole process from raw sample to pure compound
takes a lot of time, work, and resources.
These issues have caused drug discovery research to shift from natural products
to synthetic compound libraries prepared by combinatorial chemistry. However,
these synthetic compound libraries fail to represent the entire chemical space, which
is defined as “all possible small organic molecules, including those present in bio-
logical systems” [9]. Using statistics to compare chemical properties, natural prod-
ucts were significantly similar to developed drugs, while the distribution of synthetic
compound libraries was limited, suggesting that natural products are more suitable
for drug screening. Accordingly, many of the drugs developed in the past 30 years
are natural products or synthetic compounds based on or inspired by natural products
[1]. Therefore, natural products continue to be a vital source and may be more pro-
ductive sources for drug screening [10] once we can find a way to overcome the
challenges mentioned above.
In this chapter, screening methods based on bioactivity and chemical structure
are described in brief followed by a discussion on natural product fraction libraries
and our own strategy and findings.
2 Biological Screening
Biological activity screening has been a major way of discovering bioactive natural
products, and many of medicinally important compounds have been discovered in
this manner [11]. It is mainly categorized into phenotypic and target-based screen-
ings. Phenotypic screening focuses on the identification of compounds or molecules
that cause changes to the phenotypes of cells, tissues, or whole organisms without
prior knowledge of any specific targets. Another form of phenotypic screening is
high-content screening (HCS), wherein multiple information such as spatial distri-
bution and morphology can be recorded in different timescales using automated
imaging [12]. Meanwhile, target-based screening operates on a putative or known
target such as a protein and searches for compounds that will induce an effect on it
[13–15].
Between 1999 and 2008, 23% and 37% of first-in-class drugs approved by the
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were products of target-based and phe-
notypic screenings, respectively [13]. Later on, Eder et al. reported the contrary
that between 1999 and 2013, 69% and 7% of FDA-approved first-in-class drugs
were from target-based and phenotypic approaches, respectively [16]. However,
the authors pointed out that phenotypic screening is not inferior to but rather a
complement to target-based screening and further suggested it to be a new disci-
pline [15, 16].
In this point of view and in our search for new anticancer compounds, we have
developed a phenotypic screening system based on cell morphology changes and
created a database called MorphoBase [17, 18]. MorphoBase contains the data of
morphological changes of various cancer cell lines treated with over 200 well-
characterized drugs. It is anticipated that a new molecular mechanism of action will
be revealed upon detection of a unique cell morphology induced by a new agent in
comparison with existing profiles in the database. In the course of our phenotypic
screening, pyrrolizilactone – a novel fungal metabolite characterized by a unique
ketone-linked pyrrolizidinone and decalin structure – was found. By using
MorphoBase, pyrrolizilactone was classified as a proteasome inhibitor, and this was
later confirmed by a proteome-based profiling analysis (Fig. 1.2) [19, 20]. Based on
these facts, biological screening is an integral part of natural product research.
1 Microbial Fraction Library: A Screening Source for Drug Discovery 5
Fig. 1.2 Morphological profiles of HeLa and srcts-NRK cancer cells treated with
pyrrolizilactone
3 Chemical Screening
A. Selachoidei: Sharks.
The elongate cylindrical body, generally terminating in a more or
less pointed snout, and passing into a powerful and flexible tail,
blade-like at its extremity, gives to the Sharks a most extraordinary
power of swimming, with regard to endurance as well as rapidity of
motion. Many, especially the larger kinds, inhabit the open ocean,
following ships for weeks, or pursuing shoals of fishes in their
periodical migrations. Other large-sized sharks frequent such parts
of the coast as offer them abundance of food; whilst the majority of
the smaller kinds are shore fishes, rarely leaving the bottom, and
sometimes congregating in immense numbers. The movements of
sharks resemble in some measure those of snakes, their flexible
body being bent in more than one curve when moving.
Sharks are most numerous in the seas between the Tropics, and
become scarcer beyond, a few only reaching the Arctic circle; it is
not known how far they advance southwards towards the Antarctic
region. Some species enter fresh waters, and ascend large rivers,
like the Tigris or Ganges, to a considerable distance. The pelagic as
well as the shore species have a wide geographical range. Very few
descend to a considerable depth, probably not exceeding 500
fathoms. There are about 140 different species known.
Sharks have no scales like those of other fishes; their
integuments are covered with calcified papillæ which, under the
microscope, show a structure similar to that of teeth. If the papillæ
are small, pointed, and close set, the skin is called “shagreen;” rarely
they are larger, appearing as bucklers or spines, of various sizes.
These fishes are exclusively carnivorous, and those armed with
powerful cutting teeth are the most formidable tyrants of the ocean.
They have been known to divide the body of a man in two at one
bite, as if by the sweep of a sword. Some of the largest sharks,
however, which are provided with very small teeth, are almost
harmless, feeding on small fishes only or marine invertebrates.
Others, particularly of the smaller kinds, commonly called “Dog-
fishes,” have short or obtuse teeth, and feed on shells or any other
animal substance. Sharks scent their food from a distance, being
readily attracted by the smell of blood or decomposing bodies.
In China and Japan, and many other eastern countries, the
smaller kinds of sharks are eaten. Sharks’ fins form in India and
China a very important article of trade, the Chinese preparing from
them gelatine, and using the better sorts for culinary purposes. The
fins are obtained not exclusively from Sharks but also from Rays,
and assorted in two kinds, viz. “white and black.” The white consist
exclusively of the dorsal fins, which are on both sides of the same
uniform light colour, and reputed to yield more gelatine than the other
fins. The pectoral, ventral, and anal fins pass under the
denomination of black fins; the caudal fin is not used. One of the
principal places where shark fishery is practised as a profession is
Kurrachee. Dr. Buist, writing in 1850 (“Proc. Zool. Soc.” 1850, p.
100), states that there are thirteen large boats, with crews of twelve
men each, constantly employed in this pursuit; that the value of the
fins sent to the market varies from 15,000 to 18,000 rupees; that one
boat will sometimes capture at a draught as many as one hundred
sharks of various sizes; and that the number total of sharks captured
during the year amounts probably to not less than 40,000. Large
quantities are imported from the African coast and the Arabian Gulf,
and various ports on the coast of India. In the year 1845–46, 8770
cwt. of sharks’ fins were exported from Bombay to China.
First Family—Carchariidæ.
Eye with a nictitating membrane. Mouth crescent-shaped, inferior.
Anal fin present. Two dorsal fins, the first opposite to the space
between pectoral and ventral fins, without spine in front.
Carcharias.—Snout produced in the longitudinal axis of the body;
mouth armed with a series of large flat triangular teeth, which have a
smooth cutting or serrated edge. Spiracles absent. A transverse pit on
the back of the tail, at the root of the caudal fin.
This genus comprises the true Sharks, common in the tropical,
but less so in the temperate seas. Between thirty and forty different
species have been distinguished, of which one of the most common
is the “Blue Shark” (Carcharias glaucus). Individuals of from twelve
to fifteen feet are of very common occurrence, but some of the
species attain a much larger size, and a length of 25 and more feet.
Fishes of this genus or of closely allied genera (Corax, Hemipristis)
are not uncommon in the chalk and tertiary formations.
Galeocerdo.—Teeth large, flat, triangular, oblique, serrated on
both edges, with a deep notch on the outer margin. Spiracles small. A
pit on the tail, above and below, at the root of the caudal fin. Two
notches on the under caudal border, one of them at the end of the
spine.
Fig. 112.—Dentition of the Blue Shark
(Carcharias glaucus); the single teeth are of the
natural size.
Three species, of which one (G. arcticus) is confined to the arctic
and sub-arctic oceans. The others inhabit temperate and tropical
seas, and all attain to a very large size.
Galeus.—Snout produced in the longitudinal axis of the body;
teeth equal in both jaws, rather small, flat, triangular, oblique, serrated
and with a notch. Spiracles small. No pit at the commencement of the
caudal fin, which has a single notch on its lower margin.
These are small sharks, commonly called “Tope.” The species
found on the British coast is spread over nearly all the temperate and
tropical seas, and is common in California and Tasmania. It lives on
the bottom, and is very troublesome to fishermen by constantly
taking away bait or driving away the fishes which they desire to
catch.
Zygæna.—The anterior part of the head is broad, flattened, and
produced into a lobe on each side, the extremity of which is occupied
by the eye. Caudal fin with a single notch at its lower margin. A pit at
the root of the caudal fin. Spiracles none. Nostrils situated on the front
edge of the head.
The “Hammerheads,” or Hammerheaded Sharks, have a
dentition very similar to that of Carcharias, and although they do not
attain to the same large size, they belong to the most formidable
fishes of the ocean. The peculiar form of their head is quite unique
among fishes; young examples have the lateral extension of the skull
much less developed than adults. Five species are known, which are
most abundant in the tropics. By far the most common is Zygæna
malleus, which occurs in nearly all tropical and sub-tropical seas.
Specimens of this species may be often seen ascending from the
clear blue depths of the ocean like a great cloud. Cantor found in a
female, nearly 11 feet long, thirty-seven embryons.—Hammerheads
have lived from the cretaceous epoch.
Mustelus.—The second dorsal fin is not much smaller than the
first. No pit at the root of the caudal, which is without distinct lower
lobe. Snout produced in the longitudinal axis of the body. Spiracles
small, behind the eyes. Teeth small, numerous, similar in both jaws,
obtuse, or with very indistinct cusps, arranged like pavement.
The “Hounds” are small Sharks, abundant on the coasts of all the
temperate and tropical seas; two of the five species known occur on
the coasts of Europe, viz. M. lævis and M. vulgaris. Closely allied as
these two species are, they yet show a most singular difference, viz.
that a placenta is developed in the uterus for the attachment of the
embryo in M. lævis (the Γαλεὁς λεȋος of Aristotle, to whom this fact
was already known); whilst the embryons of M. vulgaris are
developed without such placenta (see J. Müller, “Abhandl. Ak. Wiss.”
Berl. 1840). The Hounds are bottom fish, which feed principally on
shells, crustaceans, and decomposing animal substances.
Third Family—Rhinodontidæ.
No nictitating membrane. Anal fin present. Two dorsal fins, the
first nearly opposite to the ventrals, without spine in front. Mouth and
nostril near the extremity of the snout.
This small family comprises one species only, Rhinodon typicus,
a gigantic Shark, which is known to exceed a length of fifty feet, but
is stated to attain that of seventy. It does not appear to be rare in the
western parts of the Indian Ocean, and possibly occurs also in the
Pacific. It is one of the most interesting forms, not unlike the Basking
Shark of the Northern Seas, having gill-rakers like that species; but
very little is known of its structure and mode of life. It is perfectly
harmless, its teeth being extremely small and numerous, placed in
broad bands; it has been stated to feed on tang, an observation
which requires confirmation. The snout is very broad, short, and flat;
the eyes are very small. A pit at the root of the caudal fin which has
the lower lobe well developed; side of the tail with a keel. A
characteristic figure of this fish has been given by A. Smith in his
“Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa,” Plate 26, from a
specimen which came ashore at the Cape of Good Hope.
Fourth Family—Notidanidæ.
No nictitating membrane. One dorsal fin only, without spine,
opposite to the anal.
Notidanus.—Dentition unequal in the jaws: in the upper jaw one
or two pairs of awl-shaped teeth, the following six being broader, and
provided with several cusps, one of which is much the strongest.
Lower jaw with six large comb-like teeth on each side, beside the
smaller posterior teeth. Spiracles small, on the side of the neck. No pit
at the root of the caudal fin. Gill-openings wide, six in number in
Hexanchus, seven in Heptanchus.
Four species are known, distributed over nearly all the tropical
and sub-tropical seas; they attain to a length of about fifteen feet.
Fossil teeth belonging to this type have been found in Jurassic and
later formations (Notidanus and Aellopos).
Fifth Family—Scylliidæ.
Two dorsal fins, without spine: the first above or behind the
ventrals; anal fin present. No nictitating membrane. Spiracle always
distinct. Mouth inferior. Teeth small, several series generally being in
function.
Scyllium.—The origin of the anal fin is always in advance of that
of the second dorsal. Nasal cavity separate from the mouth. Teeth
small, with a middle longer cusp, and generally one or two small
lateral cusps arranged in numerous series. Eggs similar to those of
the Rays (Fig. 79, p. 167).
The fishes of this genus are of small size, and commonly called
“Dog-fishes.” They are coast fishes, living on the bottom, and feeding
on Crustaceans, dead fishes, etc. None of the eight species known
have a very wide distribution, but where they occur they are
generally sufficiently abundant to prove troublesome to fishermen.
They inhabit most parts of the temperate and tropical seas. On the
British coasts two species are found, the “Larger” and “Lesser
spotted Dog-fish,” Scyllium canicula and Scyllium catulus, which are
said to be more plentiful among the Orkney Islands than elsewhere.
They are scarcely ever brought to market; but the fishermen of some
localities do not disdain to eat them. Their flesh is remarkably white,
a little fibrous, and dry. In the Orkneys they are skinned, split up,
cleaned, and then spread out on the rocks to dry for home
consumption. The skins are used for smoothing down cabinet-work.
It would be worth while to apply the fins of these and other Sharks,
which are so extensively used in China for making gelatine soups, to
the same purpose in this country, or to dry them for exportation to
the East. Most of the species of Dog-fishes are spotted, and those of
the allied genera, Parascyllium and Chiloscyllium, very handsomely
ornamented.
Closely allied to Scyllium is Pristiurus, from the coasts of Europe,
which is provided with a series of small flat spines on each side of
the upper edge of the caudal fin.
Fossil forms of Dog-fishes are not scarce in the Lias and Chalk:
Scylliodus, Palæoscyllium, Thyellina, Pristiurus.
Ginglymostoma.—The second dorsal fin opposite to, and
somewhat in advance of, the anal. Eyes very small; spiracle minute
and behind the eye. Nasal and buccal cavities confluent. The nasal
valves of both sides form one quadrangular flap in front of the mouth,
each being provided with a free cylindrical cirrhus. The fourth and fifth
gill-openings are close together. The teeth stand either in many series,
each having a strong median cusp and one or two smaller ones on
each side (Ginglymostoma), or they stand in a few (three) series only,
the foremost only being in function, and each tooth having a convex,
finely and equally serrated margin (Nebrius).
Four species from the tropical parts of the Atlantic and Indian
Oceans, attaining to a length of some 12 feet. Pelagic.
Stegostoma.—The first dorsal above the ventrals, the second in
advance of the anal, which is very close to the caudal. Tail, with the
caudal fin, exceedingly long, measuring one-half of the total length.
Eyes very small, spiracle as wide as, and situated behind, the orbit.
Nasal and buccal cavities confluent. Snout very obtuse; upper lip very
thick, like a pad, bent downwards over the mouth, with a free
cylindrical cirrhus on each side. Teeth small, trilobed, in many series,
occupying in both jaws a transverse flat subquadrangular patch. The
fourth and fifth gill-openings are close together.
The single species (St. tigrinum) for which this genus has been
formed, is one of the commonest and handsomest sharks of the
Indian Ocean. Young individuals keep generally close to the coasts,
whilst the adult, which are from 10 to 15 feet long, are not rarely met
in the open ocean. The colour is a brownish yellow, ornamented with
black or brown transverse bands, or with snuff-coloured rounded
spots; hence this shark is frequently mentioned by the names of
“Zebra-Shark” or “Tiger-Shark.”
Sixth Family—Hybodontidæ.
Two dorsal fins, each with a serrated spine. Teeth rounded,
longitudinally striated, with one larger, and from two to four smaller
lateral cusps. Skin covered with shagreen.
Extinct. From carboniferous, liassic, and triassic formations.
Several genera have been distinguished; and if Cladodus belongs to
this family, it would have been represented even in the Devonian.
Seventh Family—Cestraciontidæ.
No nictitating membrane. Two dorsal fins, the first opposite to the
space between pectoral and ventral fins; anal fin present. Nasal and
buccal cavities confluent. Teeth obtuse, several series being in
function.
Eighth Family—Spinacidæ.
No membrana nictitans. Two dorsal fins; no anal. Mouth but
slightly arched; a long, deep, straight, oblique groove on each side of
the mouth. Spiracles present; gill-openings narrow. Pectoral fins not
notched at their origin.
The oldest representative of this family (Palæospinax) occurs at
Lyme Regis; its skin is granular; each dorsal fin possesses a spine;
the teeth in the jaws are dissimilar—the upper being multicuspid,
longitudinally ribbed as in Hybodus, the lower smooth and tricuspid.
Drepanophorus and Spinax primævus occur in Cretaceous
formations of England and the Lebanon.
Centrina.—Each dorsal fin with a strong spine. Trunk rather
elevated, trihedral, with a fold of the skin running along each side of
the belly. Teeth of the lower jaw erect, triangular, finely serrated; those
of the upper slender, conical, forming a group in front of the jaw.
Spiracles wide, behind the eye.
One species, Centrina salviani, from the Mediterranean and
neighbouring parts of the Atlantic; of small size.
Acanthias.—Each dorsal fin with a spine. Teeth equal in both
jaws, rather small; their point is so much turned aside that the inner
margin of the tooth forms the cutting edge. Spiracles rather wide,
immediately behind the eye.
The two species of “Spiny Dog-fishes,” A. vulgaris and A.
blainvillii, have a very remarkable distribution, being found in the
temperate seas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but not
in the intermediate tropical zone. They are of small size, but occur at
times in incredible numbers, 20,000 having been taken in one scene
on the Cornish coast. They do much injury to the fishermen by
cutting their lines and carrying off their hooks.
Centrophorus.—Each dorsal fin with a spine which, however, is
sometimes so small as to be hidden below the skin. Mouth wide.
Teeth of the lower jaw with the point more or less inclined backwards
and outwards. Upper teeth erect, triangular, or narrow, lanceolate, with
a single cusp. Spiracles wide, behind the eye.
Eight species are known from the southern parts of the European
seas, and one from the Moluccas; they do not appear to exceed a
length of five feet. According to the observations of E. P. Wright,
some of the species at least live at a considerable depth, perhaps at
a greater depth than any of the other known Sharks. The Portuguese