Bromobalhimycin and Chlorobromobalhimycins—Illuminating the Potential of Halogenases in Glycopeptide Antibiotic Biosyntheses

Abstract

Can bromine beat bacteria? By varying the amounts of chloride and bromide salts in fermentation culture media, we have generated novel sets of vancomycin-type glycopeptides with bromine substitution. This study extends the sequence of substituents at the aglycon moiety of balhimycin from H through F and Cl to Br (see scheme) and opens up possibilites for the investigation of substituent effects upon the activity of glycopeptide antibiotics.