Alkali Cation- and Borate-Binding States of Tartrolon Antibiotics.

ABSTRACT: The borate-binding polyketide macrolide natural products are a long-known family of bacterial antibiotics and antiparasitic agents. Among these, tartrolon E is highly potent and selective in killing eukaryotic parasites while sparing mammalian cells. However, it has been challenging to obtain, fully chemically define, and formulate the tartrolons. Here, we describe a streamlined route to obtain pure tartrolon E as a highly crystalline material. The method yielded crystals of tartrolon E, the analysis of which revealed the stable chelation of a sodium counterion. Using this chemically defined material, additional experiments permitted quantitative cation exchange with alkali-metal cations, suggesting a relative binding affinity of Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. In cases wh

SUBMITTER: Miller BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12645646 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature