From plant to probe: semi-synthesis of labelled undecaprenol analogues allows rapid access to probes for antibiotic targets.

Undecaprenol-containing glycolipids (UCGs) are essential precursors of bacterial glycopolymers and glycoproteins. We report a novel semi-synthetic strategy to prepare labelled UCGs directly from undecaprenol. This one-size-fits-all approach offers a concise and efficient method for obtaining labelled-UCGs, which will allow new mechanistic studies and inhibitor screens to be performed on novel antibiotic targets.