Featured
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Article |
Native mass spectrometry-based metabolomics identifies metal-binding compounds
The systemic discovery of metal–small-molecule complexes from biological samples is a difficult challenge. Now, a method based on liquid chromatography and native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been developed. The approach uses post-column pH adjustment and metal infusion combined with ion identity molecular networking, and a rule-based informatics workflow, to interrogate small-molecule–metal binding.
- Allegra T. Aron
- , Daniel Petras
- & Pieter C. Dorrestein
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News & Views |
Hunting microbial metabolites
Symbiotic bacteria synthesize many specialized small molecules; however, establishing the role these chemicals play in human health and disease has been difficult. Now, the chemical structure and mechanism of the Escherichia coli product colibactin provides insight into the link between this secondary metabolite and colorectal cancer.
- Eric W. Schmidt
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Article |
The colibactin warhead crosslinks DNA
Genotoxic small molecules from the bacterial colibactin pathway — a gut-associated non-ribosomal peptide synthetase–polyketide synthase hybrid gene cluster linked to colorectal cancer — have remained elusive due to their instability. Now, one of these, the colibactin warhead, an unprecedented substituted spirobicyclic structure, has been characterized and shown to crosslink duplex DNA in vitro.
- Maria I. Vizcaino
- & Jason M. Crawford
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