Hatomarubigin B

Streptomyces sp. strain 2238-SVT4 produces hatomarubigins A, B, C, and D, which belong to the angucycline family. Among them, hatomarubigin D has a unique dimeric structure with a methylene linkage. PCR using aromatase and cyclase gene-specific primers identified the hrb gene cluster for angucycline biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. 2238-SVT4. The cluster consisted of 30 open reading frames, including those for the minimal polyketide synthase, ketoreductase, aromatase, cyclase, O-methyltransferase, oxidoreductase, and oxygenase genes. Expression of a part of the gene cluster containing hrbR1 to hrbX in Streptomyces lividans TK23 resulted in the production of hatomarubigins A, B, and C. Hatomarubigin D was obtained from the conversion of hatomarubigin C by a purified enzyme encoded by hrbY, among the remaining genes.

The first total synthesis of (+)-hatomarubigin 3 is described. The tetra-O-acetyl diborate promoted Diels-Alder reaction of 5-hydroxy-8-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,4-naphthoquinone 8 and (E, 1R*,5R*)-3-(2'-methoxyvinyl)cyclohex-2-enol (+/-)-7 gave a mixture of four cycloadducts from which (1S,3S,6S,6aR,12aR,12bS)-1,8-dihydroxy-6-dimethoxy-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-11-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,2,3,4,6,6a,12a,12b-octahydrobenz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione 12 was isolated in 51% yield. Selective methylation and acetylation of 12 gave (1S,3S,6S,6aR,12aR,12bS)-1-acetoxy-6,8-dimethoxy-3-methyl-11-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,2,3,4,6,6a,12a,12b-octahydrobenz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione 10a. Sequential aromatization, photooxidation and hydrolysis of the glucosyl unit gave (+)-3 (98% ee) in an 8% overall yield from 8.

A complex of new isotetracenone group antibiotics was isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. 2238-SVT4. It consisted of four related compounds, designated hatomarubigins A, B, C and D, whose structures were elucidated by NMR spectral analysis including a variety of 2D techniques. They enhanced the cytotoxicity of colchicine against multidrug-resistant tumor cells.