Isolation and Synthesis of Novel Farnesyl Protein Transferase Inhibitors, Valinoctins A and B, from <i>Streptomyces</i> Strain MJ858-NF3

Two novel farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors, valinoctins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces strain MJ858-NF3. The tentative structures of these compounds were elucidated from NMR and mass spectra as dipeptides consisting of valine and a novel amino acyl moiety. Four possible isomers of valinoctin A were synthesized, and the protected derivative of the appropriate compound was crystallized to give the relative stereochemistry of X-ray analysis. Since the valine residue of valinoctin A was determined to be the L-configuration by a chiral HPLC column, absolute configuration of valinoctin A was determined.