CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF CYCLO-[-(D-VAL-HYI-VAL-D-HYI)3-] (MESO-VALINOMYCIN, C60H102N6O18)

The crystal structure of the valinomycin analog, cyclo‐[(‐D‐Val‐Hyi‐Val‐D‐Hyi‐)3‐] (meso‐valinomycin, C60H102N6O18) has been determined by direct x‐ray diffraction procedures. The crystals are triclinic, space group P1, number of molecules per unit cell Z = 1, and cell parameters a = 11.831, b = 13.815, c = 14.889 Å, α = 109.54°, β = 116.10°, γ = 98.89°. The atomic coordinates for the C,N,O atoms were refined in the anisotropic thermal motion approximation and for the H atoms in the isotropic approximation to R = 0.07. The structure is centrosymmetric and has a threefold axis of pseudosymmetry. The depsipeptide chain is in the form of a bracelet stabilized by six identical intramolecular 4 → 1 hydrogen bonds between the amide CO and NH groups. The ester carbonyls are oriented towards the symmetry axis, their O atoms forming an ellipsoidal molecular cavity. The isopropyl side chains are located on the molecular periphery. The structure found differs considerably from the conformation of the crystalline naturally occurring antibiotic, valinomycin, but completely resembles that of valinomycin and meso‐valinomycin in nonpolar solvents. In the crystal, meso‐valinomycin molecules form stacks. The molecular cavities situated in the stacks one above the other along the pseudo‐C3 axis form a continuous channel, the internal surface of which is lined by O atoms. The possible conformations of depsipeptides of the valinomycin series and their mode of action in membranes are discussed in the light of the data obtained. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.