Coprisamides A and B, New Branched Cyclic Peptides from a Gut Bacterium of the Dung Beetle Copris tripartitus

Abstract

Coprisamides A and B (1 and 2) were isolated from a bacterium in the gut of the dung beetle Copris tripartitus. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the planar structures of 1 and 2 are novel cyclic heptapeptides bearing unusual units, such as beta-methylaspartic acid and 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid branched to valine and 2-heptatrienyl cinnamic acid. Absolute configurations were established by chemical derivatization and chiroptical spectroscopy. The coprisamides displayed significant activity for induction of quinone reductase.