title: Tetrodecamycin: An unusual and interesting tetronate antibiotic.
abstract: The tetrodecamycins are a group of secondary metabolites that are characterized by the presence of a tetronate ring in their structure. Originally discovered for their antibiotic activity against Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida, the causative agent of pseudotuberculosis in fish, this family of molecules has also been shown to have potent antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Due to their small size and highly cyclized nature, they represent an unusual member of the much larger group of bioactive molecules called the tetronates. Herein, we review what is known about the mechanism of action of these molecules and also present a hypothesis for their biosynthesis. A deeper understanding of the tetrodecamycins will provide a more holistic view of the tetronate-family, provide new chemical probes of bacterial biology, and may provide therapeutic lead molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: tomas.gverzdys@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gverzdys
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: glenna.kramer@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Glenna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: justin.nodwell@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nodwell
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010776:Photobacterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005663:Furans; C087129:tetrodecamycin
keywords: 13-Deoxytetrodecamycin; Biosynthesis; Covalent; Mechanism of action; Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida; Review; Tetrodecamycin; Tetronate