Comparison of macrolactonization strategies on Lichenysin-A synthesis using UPLC-MS

Lipopeptides are amphiphilic molecules produced mainly by bacteria from Bacillus genus. Bacillus lipopeptides can be divided into three main families, Surfactins, Iturins and Fengycins. Lichenysin is a lipopeptide from Surfactin family, mainly found in Bacillus licheniformis culture, and consisting of a peptide portion of 7 members and a hydrophobic portion constituted of a fatty 3-hydroxyacid (Scheme 1). They can vary in some of the amino acids and the size of the fatty acid, but always have the same configuration (LLDLLDL). The fact of presenting a cyclic chain, gives them stability when in vivo processes once it makes metabolization of the molecule more difficult.