Biosynthetic origins of the epoxyquinone skeleton in epoxyquinols A and B

J Nat Prod. 2014 Dec 26;77(12):2707-10. doi: 10.1021/np5004615. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Abstract

The biosynthetic origins of epoxyquinols A (1) and B (2) produced by an unidentified fungus have attracted considerable interest because these compounds could be assembled from a biosynthetic precursor, epoxycyclohexenone aldehyde (3), via an electrocyclization/intermolecular Diels-Alder dimerization cascade reaction. Furthermore, very little is known about the biosynthetic origins of naturally occurring epoxyquinone moieties. We herein describe the incorporation of (13)C at specific positions within the structure of a shunt product, epoxycyclohexenone (4), using stable isotope feeding experiments with sodium [1-(13)C]-acetate and sodium [1,2-(13)C2]-acetate. The results of these experiments strongly suggest that the epoxyquinone skeleton is assembled by a polyketide synthase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Epoxy Compounds / chemistry
  • Epoxy Compounds / isolation & purification*
  • Epoxy Compounds / pharmacology
  • Fungi / chemistry*
  • Hydroquinones / chemistry
  • Hydroquinones / isolation & purification*
  • Hydroquinones / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Polyketide Synthases / metabolism*
  • Soil Microbiology

Substances

  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Hydroquinones
  • epoxyquinol A
  • epoxyquinol B
  • Polyketide Synthases