Enzymatic synthesis and immunosuppressive activity of novel desmethylated immunomycins (ascomycins)

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1993 Sep;46(9):1397-405. doi: 10.7164/antibiotics.46.1397.

Abstract

31-O-Desmethylimmunomycin O: methyltransferase (DIMT), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of immunomycin (ascomycin/FR-900520), was used to synthesize three analogs of this immunosuppressant compound. These compounds were assigned the following structures: 13-O-desmethyl-, 15-O-desmethyl- and 13,15-O-bisdesmethyl-immunomycins. Two of these compounds, namely, 15-O-desmethyl- and 13,15-O-bismethyl-immunomycins have novel structures and were examined for possible immunosuppressive activity by in vitro T-cell proliferation assay. The results showed that methylation of the C-15 hydroxyl is critical for full biological activity of the immunomycin.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemistry
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / metabolism*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Tacrolimus / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tacrolimus / chemistry
  • Tacrolimus / metabolism
  • Tacrolimus / pharmacology

Substances

  • Enzymes
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • 15-O-desmethylascomycin
  • 13-O-desmethylascomycin
  • 13,15-O-bidesmethylascomycin
  • Tacrolimus