Mycolactone is a macrolide secreted by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Experimental evidence
suggests that mycolactone plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of Buruli ulcer by
causing both tissue destruction and immunosuppression. To understand the cell biology of
mycolactone activity, we have synthesized the fluorescent mycolactone
derivativebodipymycolactone. Although derivatization resulted in a modest decrease in
cytopathic activity, the derivatized and native molecules produce identical phenotypes in …