Award details

Study of the biosynthetic route to vancomycin group antibiotics

Reference	B15301
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Jonathan Spencer
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Dudley Williams
Institution	University of Cambridge
Department	Chemistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	436,892
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	24/07/2001
End date	24/07/2004
Duration	36 months

Abstract

This project proposes to study the biosynthetic pathway which leads to chloroeremomycin, a key antibiotic of the vancomycin group. The study includes i) the biosynthesis of the unusual amino acids 3,5 - dihydroxyphenylglycine, 4-hydroxyphenyl glycine, and 3- chloro-hydroxytyrosine, ii) the biosynthesis of the linear heptapeptide backbone, iii) the structures and mechanisms of the putative cyclisation enzymes, iv) the biosynthesis of the amino-sugar 4-epi-vanocosamine, and v) expression of block mutants in Streptomyces coelicolor. The work will open the possibility of genetic manipulation to produce new potent glycopeptide antibiotics; urgently needed in view of the clinicians' nightmare scenario that the genes for resistance in VRE may find their way into MRSA.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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