Antillatoxin B, a neurotoxic lipopeptide from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula

Bioassay-guided fractionation of organic extracts from two Lyngbya majuscula collections led to the isolation of a new secondary metabolite, antillatoxin B, an unusual N-methyl homophenylalanine analogue of the potent neurotoxin antillatoxin. Its structure was deduced from 2D NMR and data comparisons with antillatoxin. Antillatoxin B exhibited significant sodium channel-activating (EC(50) = 1.77 microM) and ichthyotoxic (LC(50) = 1 microM) properties.     

Characterization of the preferred stereochemistry for the neuropharmacologic actions of antillatoxin

Antillatoxin is a potent ichthyotoxin and cytotoxin previously discovered from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. Ensuing studies of its mechanism of action showed it to activate the mammalian voltage-gated sodium channel at a pharmacological site that is distinct from any previously described. The structure of antillatoxin, initially formulated from spectroscopic information, was subsequently corrected at one stereocenter (C-4) as a result of synthesis of four different antillatoxin stereoisomers (all possible C-4 and C-5 diastereomers). In the current study these four stereoisomers, (4R,5R)-, (4S,5R)-, (4S,5S)-, and (4R,5S)-antillatoxin, were characterized in five different biological assay systems: ichthyotoxicity to goldfish, microphysiometry using cerebellar granule cells (CGCs), lactose dehydrogenase efflux from CGCs, monitoring of intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in CGCs, and cytotoxicity to Neuro 2a cells. Across these various biological measures there was great consistency in that the natural antillatoxin (the 4R,5R-isomer) was greater than 25-fold more potent than any of the other stereoisomers. Detailed NMR studies provided a number of torsion and distance constraints that were modeled using the MM2 force field to yield predicted solution structures of the four antillatoxin stereoisomers. The macrocycle and side chain of natural (4R,5R)-antillatoxin present an overall "L-shaped" topology with an accumulation of polar substituents on the external surface of the macrocycle and a hydrogen bond between N(H)-7' and the C(O)-1 carbonyl. The decreased potency of the three non-naturally occurring antillatoxin stereoisomers is certainly a result of their dramatically altered overall molecular topologies.     

Oxygenated terpenoids from a formosan soft coral Sinularia gibberosa

Three new oxygenated sesquiterpenoids, gibberodione (1), peroxygibberol (2), and sinugibberodiol (3), along with sarcophytol L (4) were isolated from a Formosan soft coral, Sinularia gibberosa. The structures of the new metabolites were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of NMR data with those of related metabolites. Metabolites 2 and 4 were found to exhibit moderate cytotoxicity toward a human liver carcinoma cell line.     

Meroditerpenoids from a Formosan soft coral Nephthea chabrolii

Eight new meroditerpenoid-related metabolites, including one naphthoquinone derivative, chabrolonaphthoquinone B (1), four tetraprenyltoluquinone-related compounds, chabrolobenzoquinones E-H (2-5), and three tetraprenyltoluquinol-related metabolites, chabrolohydroxybenzoquinones E-G (6-8), were isolated from the organic extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Nephthea chabrolii. The structures of 1-8 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the data with those of the related metabolites. Cytotoxic activity of metabolites 1-3 and 5-8 against a limited panel of cancer cell lines is also described.     

Biotransformation of imperatorin by Aspergillus flavus

Imperatorin (1) was metabolized by Aspergillus flavus, in growth media, to give five metabolites. On the basis of their physical data, the structures of the five metabolites were elucidated as xanthotoxol (2), E-trichoclin (3), Z-trichoclin (4), E-imperatorin acid (5), and Z-imperatorin acid (6); among these, 4, 5, and 6 were characterized as new coumarins. The five metabolites 2-6 were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus activity in vitro and found to be less active than the parent compound 1.     

Transformation of steviol-16alpha,17-epoxide by Streptomyces griseus and Cunninghamella bainieri

Eight new ent-beyerane metabolites, 5-8, 12, and 14-16, and four new ent-kaurane metabolites, 3, 10, 11, and 13, together with two known metabolites, 4 and 9, were isolated from the microbial transformations of steviol-16alpha,17-epoxide using Streptomyces griseus ATCC 10137 and Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 9244. The structures of the metabolites were characterized by IR, HRFABMS, and 1D and 2D NMR data. In addition, a GRE (glucocorticoid response element)-mediated luciferase reporter assay was used to initially screen for the biological activity of the 11 metabolites and stevioside. Steviol (1), steviol-16alpha,17-epoxide (2), ent-11alpha,13,16alpha,17-tetrahydroxykauran-19-oic acid (3), ent-17-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (4), ent-9alpha,13-dihydroxy-16beta,17-epoxykauran-19-oic acid (10), ent-9alpha,17-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (12), ent-1beta,17-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (14), and stevioside showed significant effects; in particular, stevioside showed almost equal potency as dexamethasone.     

Biologically active polyketide metabolites from an undetermined fungicolous hyphomycete resembling Cladosporium

Eight new polyketide-derived metabolites [cladoacetals A and B (1 and 2), 3-(2-formyl-3-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (3), 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (4), isoochracinol (5), 7-hydroxy-3-(2,3-dihydroxybutyl)-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone (6), (+)-cyclosordariolone (10), and altersolanol J (11)] and six known metabolites [two isomeric 1-(1,3-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-isobenzofuranyl)butan-2,3-diols (7a/b), 7-hydroxy-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone (8), isoochracinic acid (9), altersolanol A (12), and macrosporin (13)] have been isolated from solid-substrate fermentation cultures of an undetermined fungicolous isolate (NRRL 29097) that resembles Cladosporium sp. All structures were assigned primarily by analysis of 1D and/or 2D NMR data. Five of the compounds showed antibacterial activity.     

Metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Chromocleista sp. isolated from a deep-water sediment sample collected in the Gulf of Mexico

As part of our ongoing chemical investigation of biologically active metabolites from marine fungi, three new compounds, p-hydroxyphenopyrrozin (1) and diketopiperazines (3, 4), have been isolated from the marine-derived fungus Chromocleista sp. In addition, the fungus gave the known compound phenopyrrozin (2), four known diketopiperazines (6-9), N-acetyltryptamine (10), and agathic acid (11). Another new diketopiperazine (5) was separated and identified as a decomposition product of 3 and 4. The structures of the new metabolites were determined on the basis of mass spectroscopy, NMR experiments, and derivatization methods. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography studies.     

Biotransformation of cycloartane-type triterpenes by the fungus Glomerella fusarioides

Biotransformation of three cycloartane-type triterpenes, cycloartenol (1), 24-methylenecycloartanol (2), and cycloartenone (3), by the fungus Glomerella fusarioides was studied. Compound 1 was converted to 3, cycloart-25-ene-3beta,24-diol (4), and cycloartane-3beta,24,25-triol (5). Compound 2 was metabolized to cycloeucalenol (6) and two new compounds, 24-methylcycloartane-3beta,24,24(1)-triol (7) and 24(1)-methoxy-24-methylcycloartane-3beta,24-diol (8). Compound 3 was converted into two new metabolites, 4alpha,4beta,14alpha-trimethyl-9beta,19-cyclopregnane-3,20-dione (9) and 25-hydroxy-24-methoxycycloartan-3-one (14), and four known compounds, viz., cycloartane-3,24-dione (10), 24-hydroxycycloart-25-en-3-one (11), (23E)-25-hydroxycycloart-23-en-3-one (12), and 24,25-dihydroxycycloartan-3-one (13). The structures of four new metabolites, 7, 8, 9, and 14, were established by spectroscopic methods.     

New cytotoxic N-methylated beta-carboline alkaloids from the marine ascidian Eudistoma gilboverde.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an extract of the marine ascidian Eudistoma gilboverde provided three new beta-carboline alkaloids identified as 2-methyleudistomin D (1), 2-methyleudistomin J (2), and 14-methyleudistomidin C (3). Six known metabolites, eudistomins C, D (4), E, J (5), K, and L, were also isolated and characterized. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of their spectral data with related literature values. Of the three new compounds, 14-methyleudistomidin C (3) exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC(50)'s of < 1.0 microg/mL against four different human tumor cell lines.     

New macrolides and furan carboxylic acid derivative from the sponge-derived fungus Cladosporium herbarum

Bioassay-guided fractionation of organic extracts of Cladosporium herbarum, isolated from the marine sponge Callyspongia aerizusa, yielded two new macrolide metabolites: pandangolide 3 and 4 (1 and 2) and the known fungal metabolites pandangolide 2 (3), cladospolide B (4), and iso-cladospolide B (5). Also isolated were the antimicrobially active (against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) furan carboxylic acids: Sumiki's acid (6) and its new derivative, acetyl Sumiki's acid (7). All structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Cytotoxic C21 and C22 terpenoid-derived metabolites from the sponge Ircinia sp

One novel C21 terpenoidal natural product, ircinolin A (2), two new C22 furanoterpene metabolites, 15-acetylirciformonin B (3) and 10-acetylirciformonin B (4), and two known compounds, irciformonin B (1) and irciformonin F (5), were isolated from the sponge Ircinia sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Moreover, the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by Mosher's method. Among these metabolites, 2 is the first C21 terpenoid-derived metabolite to be reported from this genus. Compounds 1 and 3-5 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against K562, DLD-1, HepG2, and Hep3B cancer cell lines.     

Sesquiterpene quinones and related metabolites from Phyllosticta spinarum, a fungal strain endophytic in Platycladus orientalis of the Sonoran Desert

Five new metabolites, (+)-(5 S,10 S)-4'-hydroxymethylcyclozonarone ( 1), 3-ketotauranin ( 3), 3alpha-hydroxytauranin ( 4), 12-hydroxytauranin ( 5), and phyllospinarone ( 6), together with tauranin ( 2), were isolated from Phyllosticta spinarum, a fungal strain endophytic in Platycladus orientalis. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and chemical interconversions. All compounds were evaluated for inhibition of cell proliferation in a panel of five cancer cell lines, and only tauranin ( 2) showed activity. When tested in a flow cytometry-based assay, tauranin induced apoptosis in PC-3M and NIH 3T3 cell lines.     

CT2108A and B: New fatty acid synthase inhibitors as antifungal agents

A systematic screen for new natural products that displayed antifungal activity by inhibition of fungal fatty acid synthase (FAS) led to the discovery of two new fungal metabolites, designated CT2108A (1) and CT2108B (2). The metabolites were produced by Penicillium solitum (Westling) strain CT2108 and were classified as azaphilones. The structures of these new metabolites were determined using a variety of 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including COSY, HMQC, and HMBC. The chemical conversion of CT2108A to CT2108B was effected using WCl(6). The related metabolite, patulodin (3), was also isolated from the fermentation culture of this P. solitum isolate. Both new compounds inhibited fungal FAS, and neither was found to significantly inhibit human FAS activity.     

Immunomodulatory constituents from an Ascomycete, Chaetomium seminudum

A screening study focusing on immunomodulatory activity of the EtOAc extract of an Ascomycete, Chaetomium seminudum, has afforded a known epipolythiodioxopiperazine, chetomin (1), together with three new chetomin-related metabolites named chetoseminudins A (2), B (3), and C (4). Among these four metabolites, 1 and 2 have been deduced as the immunosuppressive features of this fungus.     

Microbial transformation of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol-type saponins by Absidia coerulea

Three 20(S)-protopanaxatriol-type saponins, ginsenoside-Rg1 (1), notoginsenoside-R1 (2), and ginsenoside-Re (3), were transformed by the fungus Absidia coerulea (AS 3.3389). Compound 1 was converted into five metabolites, ginsenoside-Rh4 (4), 3beta,2beta,25-trihydroxydammar-(E)-20(22)-ene-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rh1 (6), 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rh1 (7), and a mixture of 25-hydroxy-20(S)-ginsenoside-Rh1 and its C-20(R) epimer (8). Compound 2 was converted into 10 metabolites, 20(S)-notoginsenoside-R2 (9), 20(R)-notoginsenoside-R2 (10), 3beta,12beta,25-trihydroxydammar-(E)-20(22)-ene-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-(E)-20(22),24-diene-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), 3beta,12beta,20,25-tetrahydroxydammaran-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13), and compounds 4-8. Compound 3 was metabolized to 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg2 (14), 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg2 (15), 3beta,12beta,25-trihydroxydammar-(E)-20(22)-ene-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (16), 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-(E)-20(22),24-diene-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (17), 3beta,12beta,20,25-tetrahydroxydammaran-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (18), and compounds 4-8. The structures of five new metabolites, 10-13 and 16, were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Acetophenone derivatives from Acronychia pedunculata

Chemical investigation on the stem and root bark of Acronychia pedunculata has resulted in the isolation of five new acetophenones, namely, acronyculatins A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), and E (5). The structures of these metabolites were established on the basis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data and by CD spectroscopy. The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of these five metabolites and acrovestone (6) were evaluated. Among these compounds, 6 showed marginal antioxidant and antityrosinase activities.     

New sesterterpene metabolites from the Mediterranean sponge Cacospongia scalaris

Two new sesterterpene metabolites, 16-acetoxy-dihydrodeoxoscalarin (1) and astakolactin (2), were isolated from the sponge Cacospongia scalaris, collected from the gulf of Astakos, Greece, along with furoscalarol (3) and deoxoscalarin (4), which have not been reported from C. scalaris in the past. The unpalatability of the sponge to fish was traced by field feeding assays to the fractions containing dihydrofurospongin-2. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by interpretation of their NMR data and high-resolution mass spectral measurements.     

Moromycins A and B, isolation and structure elucidation of C-glycosylangucycline-type antibiotics from Streptomyces sp. KY002

Two new anticancer antibiotics of the angucycline class, moromycins A and B (1, 2), along with the known microbial metabolites saquayamycin B (3) and fridamycin D (4) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a culture broth of the terrestrial Streptomyces sp. KY002. The structures consist of a tetrangomycin core and various C- and O-glycosidically linked deoxysugars. The chemical structures of the new secondary metabolites were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and by mass spectrometry. Moromycin B (2) showed significant cytotoxicity against H-460 human lung cancer and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.     

Calbistrin E and two other new metabolites from an Australian isolate of Penicillium striatisporum

An Australian isolate of Penicillium striatisporum collected near Shalvey, New South Wales, exhibited selective antifungal activity against Candida albicans versus Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Bioassay-directed fractionation yielded members of the rare class of fungal metabolites known as the calbistrins. These included a new example of this structure class, calbistrin E (1), as well as the known polyenes calbistrin C (2) and deformylcalbistrin A (3). Also recovered from P. striatisporum were new triene and butenolide acids, striatisporin A (4) and striatisporolide A (5), together with the known fungal metabolites versiol (6) and (+)-hexylitaconic acid (7). Structures for all metabolites were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis.