Stereochemical Revision, Total Synthesis, and Solution State Conformation of the Complex Chlorosulfolipid Mytilipin B

Chlorosulfolipids constitute a structurally intriguing and synthetically challenging class of marine natural products that are isolated from mussels and freshwater algae. The most complex structure from this family of compounds is currently represented by Mytilipin B, isolated in 2002 from culinary mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, whose initially proposed structure was shown to be incorrect. In this study, we present the synthesis of four diastereomers which allowed the reassignment of eight stereocenters and the stereochemical revision of Mytilipin B, along with the determination of the dominant solution-state conformation.

Stereochemistry and biological activity of chlorinated lipids: a study of danicalipin A and selected diastereomers

The syntheses of (+)-16-epi- and (+)-11,15-di-epi-danicalipin A (2 and 3) are reported. The conformations of the parent diols 5 and 6 as well as the corresponding disulfates 2 and 3 were determined on the basis of J-based configuration analysis and supported by calculations. The impact of configuration on membrane permeability in Gram-negative bacteria and mammalian cell lines was assessed as well as cytotoxicity. Although diastereomer 2 showed similar behavior to natural (+)-danicalipin A (1), strikingly, the more flexible C11,C15-epimer 3 had no effect on permeability and proved equally or more toxic towards multiple cell lines.

Biological Investigations of (+)-Danicalipin A Enabled Through Synthesis

A total synthesis of the chlorosulfolipid (+)-danicalipin A has been accomplished in 12 steps and 4.4% overall yield. The efficient and scalable synthesis enabled in-depth investigations of the lipid's biological properties, in particular cytotoxicity towards various mammalian cell lines. Furthermore, the ability of (+)-danicalipin A to increase the uptake of fluorophores into bacteria and mammalian cells was demonstrated, indicating it may enhance membrane permeability. By comparing (+)-danicalipin A with racemic 1,14-docosane disulfate, and the diol precursor of (+)-danicalipin A, we have shown that both chlorine and sulfate functionalities are necessary for biological activity.

Bioactive compounds from marine mussels and their effects on human health

The consumption of marine mussels as popular seafood has increased steadily over the past decades. Awareness of mussel derived molecules, that promote health, has contributed to extensive research efforts in that field. This review highlights the bioactive potential of mussel components from species of the genus Mytilus (e.g. M. edulis) and Perna (e.g. P. canaliculus). In particular, the bioactivity related to three major chemical classes of mussel primary metabolites, i.e. proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, is evaluated. Within the group of proteins the focus is mainly on mussel peptides e.g. those obtained by bio-transformation processes, such as fermentation. In addition, mussel lipids, comprising polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are discussed as compounds that are well known for prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Within the third group of carbohydrates, mussel polysaccharides are investigated. Furthermore, the importance of monitoring the mussel as food material in respect to contaminations with natural toxins produced by microalgae is discussed.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-danicalipin A

A convergent asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-danicalipin A is accomplished, in which two chlorinated fragments are stereoselectively joined by 1,3-dipolar coupling, leading to the confirmation of the absolute configuration of the natural product.

Catalysis of phosphorus(V)-mediated transformations: dichlorination reactions of epoxides under Appel conditions

A stereospecific triphenylphosphine oxide-catalyzed 1,2-dichlorination reaction of epoxides has been developed. The reaction is effective for a range of terminal and internal epoxides. In contrast to the classical Appel-type dichlorination of epoxides, oxalyl chloride is used as a stoichiometric reagent to generate the chlorophosphonium salt responsible for dichlorination from catalytic triphenylphosphine oxide.

Synthesis and characterization of all four diastereomers of 3,4-dichloro-2-pentanol, motifs relevant to the chlorosulfolipids

All four diastereomers of 3,4-dichloro-2-pentanol were synthesized by anti-dichlorination of the precursor allylic alcohols; their stereochemistry was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of tosylate derivatives. Complete NMR data is provided in the hope that this information will facilitate structural elucidation and synthesis studies on the chlorosulfolipid family of natural products, such as malhamensilipin A.

A concise enantioselective synthesis of the chlorosulfolipid malhamensilipin A

The first enantioselective synthesis of a member of the chlorosulfolipid family of natural products is reported. All of the polar substituents of malhamensilipin A are introduced with high stereoselectivity, and the unique (E)-chlorovinyl sulfate is created by a chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective E2 elimination of HCl in a reaction that likely has a counterpart in the biosynthesis of this fascinating natural product.

Structure revision and absolute configuration of malhamensilipin A from the freshwater chrysophyte Poterioochromonas malhamensis

Malhamensilipin A (2), a bioactive chlorosulfolipid initially reported in 1994 from the freshwater alga Poterioochromonas malhamensis, was reinvestigated for its structural and stereochemical features. HRESIMS data revealed that 2 possesses two sulfate groups rather than the one originally reported. A combination of J-based configurational and Mosher's analyses led us to assign its absolute configuration as 11R, 12S, 13S, 14R, 15S, and 16S. Finally, comparison of (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts with synthetic standards confirmed that malhamensilipin A (2) possesses a terminal double bond of E configuration.

Relative stereochemistry determination and synthesis of the major chlorosulfolipid from Ochromonas danica

The relative stereochemistry of the major chlorosulfolipid of the chrysophyte alga Ochromonas danica, to which we have given the name "danicalipin A", is reported. The first synthesis of this lipid, via several stereospecific electrophilic additions to alkenes, serves to corroborate the stereochemical assignment made by NMR spectroscopy. The synthesis strategy described should be applicable to other chlorosulfolipids and should provide access to sufficient material for studies of the lipid's properties and function in membranes.

Marine toxins: an overview

Oceans provide enormous and diverse space for marine life. Invertebrates are conspicuous inhabitants in certain zones such as the intertidal; many are soft-bodied, relatively immobile and lack obvious physical defenses. These animals frequently have evolved chemical defenses against predators and overgrowth by fouling organisms. Marine animals may accumulate and use a variety of toxins from prey organisms and from symbiotic microorganisms for their own purposes. Thus, toxic animals are particularly abundant in the oceans. The toxins vary from small molecules to high molecular weight proteins and display unique chemical and biological features of scientific interest. Many of these substances can serve as useful research tools or molecular models for the design of new drugs and pesticides. This chapter provides an initial survey of these toxins and their salient properties.

Putative palytoxin and its new analogue, ovatoxin-a, in Ostreopsis ovata collected along the Ligurian coasts during the 2006 toxic outbreak

In this article we report on the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) investigation of plankton samples collected in the summer of 2006 along the Ligurian coasts, coinciding with a massive bloom of the tropical microalga Ostreopsis ovata. LC-MS analyses indicated the occurrence of putative palytoxin along with a much more abundant palytoxin-like compound never reported so far, which we named ovatoxin-a. On the basis of molecular formula, fragmentation pattern, and chromatographic behavior, the structure of ovatoxin-a appeared to be strictly related to that of palytoxin. We report also on the analysis of cultured O. ovata, which was necessary to unequivocally demonstrate that putative palytoxin and ovatoxin-a contained in field samples were actually produced by O. ovata itself.

Synthesis of macrocyclic shellfish toxins containing spiroimine moieties

An overview of the structure and biological activity of macrocyclic polyketides derived from dinoflagellates that contain unusual cyclic imine units is provided. The total and partial syntheses of these molecules are discussed with an emphasis on the construction of the spiroimine functionality thought to be the key pharmacophore of these fact-acting shellfish toxins.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2004 for marine natural products, with 693 citations (491 for the period January to December 2004) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green algae, brown algae, red algae, sponges, coelenterates, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates and echinoderms. The emphasis is on new compounds (716 for 2004), together with their relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies (8), and syntheses (80), including those that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Shellfish poisons

In our ongoing search for bioactive metabolites from marine organisms, novel shellfish poisons have been isolated. Pinnatoxins, which are amphoteric polyether compounds, were purified from the Okinawan bivalve Pinna muricata. Pinnatoxins show acute toxicity against mice and activate Ca2+ channels. Two novel alkaloids, pinnamine and pinnaic acid, were also obtained from P. muricata. Pinnaic acid inhibits cytosolic phospholipase (cPLA2). Pteriatoxins, which are pinnatoxin analogs, were isolated from the Okinawan bivalve Pteria penguin. A nanomole-order structure determination of pteriatoxins was achieved by the detailed analysis of 2D-NMR and ESI-TOF MS/MS. This review covers the isolation, structure determination, bioactivity, synthesis, and biogenesis of these shellfish poisons and related compounds.

Investigations into the cellular actions of the shellfish toxin gymnodimine and analogues

The effects of the shellfish toxin gymnodimine and its analogues (gymnodimine acetate, gymnodimine methyl carbonate and gymnodamine) on cellular viability were tested using the Neuro2a neuroblastoma cell line. Concentrations of toxins up to 10μM had variable effects on reducing cell number as determined using the MTT assay and no effects on the expression of a number of signal transduction proteins (c-Jun, ATF-2, ATF-3) which are sensitive to cellular stress. However, pre-exposure of Neuro2a cells to 10μM concentrations of toxins for 24h greatly sensitized these cells to the apoptotic effects of another algal toxin, okadaic acid. These results suggest that gymnodimine and its analogues sensitize Neuro2a cells to cytotoxins and raise the possibility that algal blooms involving the production of both okadaic acid-type molecules and gymnodimine may generate greater cytotoxicity and pose a greater public health problem. Furthermore, our studies establish the Neuro2a cell line as a potentially high-throughput cellular system sensitive to the pharmacological effects of gymnodimine and analogues, and as a potential screen for algal-derived toxins.

Isolation and identification of (44-R,S)-44,55-dihydroxyyessotoxin from Protoceratium reticulatum, and its occurrence in extracts of shellfish from New Zealand, Norway and Canada

44,55-Dihydroxyyessotoxin (1) was isolated from extracts of Protoceratium reticulatum and identified by analysis of its one- and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectra. In addition, LC-MS methods revealed the presence of compounds tentatively identified as (44-R,S)-44,55-dihydroxy-41a-homoyessotoxin (2) and (44-R,S)-44,55-dihydroxy-9-methyl-41a-homoyessotoxin (3). LC-MS analyses indicate that 1 is a constituent of P. reticulatum in New Zealand and Norway, and it was present in three species of mussels from New Zealand, Norway, and Canada.