 In this Issue, X. Gao and J. Zhang discuss FRET-based activity biosensors to probe compartmentalized signalling. These biosensors, which can be genetically encoded, are targetable and allow real-time tracking of activity dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution. C. Olsen covers peptoid–peptide hybrid backbone architectures (see picture) in a Minireview. His article overviews hybrid peptidomimetics containing peptoid (N-alkylated glycine) or β-peptoid (N-alkylated β-alanine) residues in combination with α-amino acids and shows that these types of structures have potential as ligands in a wide variety of biological systems. In the original research section, we feature two manuscripts on the cloning, sequencing, and characterization of liposidomycin gene clusters. Gust and co-workers compare the liposidomycin gene cluster with the gene cluster of the structurally related caprazamycins. Their work supports the proposed pathway to liponucleoside formation and has led to the identification of new sulfated caprazamycin derivatives. In a concurrent work, Van Lanen and co-workers clone and sequence the biosynthetic gene cluster for liposidomycin-like A-90289, a fatty acid nucleoside antibiotic. They reveal that the sulfotransferase LipB is essential for A-90289 biosynthesis and discover that LipB utilizes p-nitrophenylsulfate as an aryl sulfate donor and a variety of nonaryl acceptors including caprazamycin A to give the 2 -O-sulfated product, A-90289A. Rounding out the original research section, M. Xin and T. D. H. Bugg experimentally demonstrate the proposed ring expansion in the biosynthesis of substituted 2-tropolones.
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