Molecular Networking-Guided Discovery and Characterization of Stechlisins, a Group of Cyclic Lipopeptides from a Pseudomonas sp

Increasingly sensitive analytical instruments and robust downstream data processing tools have revolutionized natural product research over the past decade. A molecular networking-guided survey led to the identification of 33 new cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) from the culture broth of the proteobacterium Pseudomonas sp. FhG100052. The compound family resembles members of the amphisin group of CLPs that possess a 3-hydroxy fatty acid linked to the N-terminus of an undecapeptide core. Culture optimization led to the isolation and subsequent structure elucidation of one known and five new derivatives by extensive MS/MS and NMR experiments in combination with Marfey’s analysis. The data were in agreement with in silico analysis of the corresponding biosynthetic gene cluster. Most strikingly, the length of the incorporated fatty acid defined the growth inhibitory effects against Moraxella catarrhalis FH6810, as observed by MIC values ranging from no inhibition (>128 μg/mL) to 4 μg/mL.