New phospholipid fatty acids from the marine spongeCinachyrella alloclada uliczka

Very Long-Chain Branched-Chain Fatty Acids in Chia Seeds: Implications for Human Use

Dairy and fermented foods are common sources of dietary branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) of chain lengths C13-C18 serving a putative prebiotic role and a component of human integument. Few studies have reported on nonfermented plant-derived BCFA in human diets or cosmetics. A three-ion monitoring method was adapted to confirm branch position of ultratrace (<0.01%, w/w) BCFA. We identified chia as a new source of BCFA with C15-C35 chain lengths. Surprisingly, even-numbered very long-chain BCFA (VLC BCFA), anteiso-22:0, anteiso-24:0, and anteiso-26:0 were unequivocally identified in natural products for the first time. Plant-derived BCFA are predominantly anteiso, in contrast with similar iso and anteiso levels in ruminant and fermented foods. Chia seeds contain 0.4% BCFA, w/w of total fatty acids, or 32 mg BCFA in a food serving, surpassing other plant oils. Topical administration of chia seed oil containing VLC BCFA may have a role in skin and hair functionality.

Isolation, structural elucidation, and absolute stereochemistry of enigmazole A, a cytotoxic phosphomacrolide from the Papua New Guinea marine sponge Cinachyrella enigmatica

Enigmazole A (1), a novel phosphate-containing macrolide, was isolated from a Papua New Guinea collection of the marine sponge Cinachyrella enigmatica. The structure of 1, including the absolute stereochemistry at all eight chiral centers, was determined by a combination of spectroscopic analyses and a series of microscale chemical derivatization studies. Compound 1 is comprised of an 18-membered phosphomacrolide that contains an embedded exomethylene-substituted tetrahydropyran ring and an acyclic portion that spans an embedded oxazole moiety. Two additional analogues, 15-O-methylenigmazole A and 13-hydroxy-15-O-methylenigmazole A, were also isolated and assigned. The enigmazoles are the first phosphomacrolides from a marine source and 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity in the NCI 60-cell line antitumor screen, with a mean GI(50) of 1.7 microM.

Non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids from marine invertebrates: Occurrence, characterization and biological properties

Marine organisms, in particular invertebrates, have proved to be a major source of unique fatty acid (FA) structures originating from unusual biosynthetic pathways. Among them, non-methylene-interrupted (NMI) FA occur in various molluscs in the wide ranges of concentrations (up to 20%), such as the most often encountered 20:2 Delta5,11, 20:2 Delta5,13, 22:2 Delta7,13 or 22:2 Delta7,15. Such NMI FA have also been reported from algae, echinoderms, sponges, tropical rays, and many other invertebrates. The most intriguing marine invertebrates seem to be sponges that commonly contain very long-chain Delta5,9 FA. A third double bond can occur in the NMI FA as reported in some marine organisms, such as 20:3 Delta7,13,16 or 30:3 Delta5,9,23. Lipids of invertebrates from deep-sea hydrothermal and cold-seep vents gave rise to an intense research activity including reports on unprecedented NMI polyunsaturated FA. The bivalve molluscs are able to synthesize de novo the NMI FA but their precise biological interest is presently not well-known, although structural and functional roles in biological membranes have been suggested, in particular a higher resistance to oxidative processes and microbial lipases. Biosynthetic pathways of Delta5,9 FA in sponges were demonstrated up to C(26) FA structures and include particular elongation and desaturation steps. Recently, intense research effort has been conducted to investigate the biomedical potential of these unusual FA. Thus, Delta5,9 FA displayed interesting antiplasmodial activity. The most promising FA topoisomerase I inhibitors to date seem to be the long-chain Delta5,9 FA. This inhibitory activity is probably partially responsible for the toxicity displayed by some of the Delta5,9 FA towards cancer cell lines.

The fatty acids of calcareous sponges (Calcarea, Porifera)

Twenty-nine specimens of calcareous sponges (Class Calcarea, Phylum Porifera), covering thirteen representative species of the families Soleneiscidae, Leucaltidae, Levinellidae, Leucettidae, Clathrinidae, Sycettidae, Grantiidae, Jenkinidae, and Heteropiidae were analysed for their fatty acids. The fatty acids of Calcarea generally comprise saturated and monounsaturated linear (n-), and terminally methylated (iso-, anteiso-) C(14)-C(20) homologues. Furthermore, polyunsaturated C(22) fatty acids and the isoprenoic 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acid were found. The most prominent compounds are n-C(16), iso-C(17), iso-C(18), n-C(18), n-C(20). In addition, a high abundance of the exotic 16-methyloctadecanoic acid (anteiso-C(19)) appears to be a characteristic trait of Calcarea. Long-chain 'demospongic acids', typically found in Demospongiae and Hexactinellida, are absent in Calcarea. The completely different strategy of calcarean fatty acid synthesis supports their phylogenetic distinctiveness from a common Demospongiae/Hexactinellida taxon. Both intraspecific and intraclass patterns of Calcarea showed great similarity, suggesting a conserved fatty acid composition that already existed in the last common ancestor of Calcinea and Calcaronea, i.e. before subclasses diverged.

Phospholipid fatty acids and sterols of two Cinachyrella sponges from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea: comparison with Cinachyrella species from other origins

Phospholipid class compositions, fatty acids and sterols of the sponges Cinachyrella alloclada and C. kükenthali from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea were studied and compared with previous results for other Cinachyrella spp. collected in Senegal (East Atlantic) and New Caledonia (West Pacific). More than 50 fatty acids were identified as methyl esters and N-acyl pyrrolidides in each phospholipid mixture by GC/MS. Six fatty acids not hitherto found in nature were identified, namely 17-methyltetracosanoic in C. kükenthali and 18-methyltetracosanoic, 18-methylpentacosanoic, 18-methylhexacosanoic, 18,24-dimethyl-hexacosanoic and 6-bromo-5,9-nonacosadienoic acids in C. alloclada. Approximately 20 Delta 5,9 unsaturated fatty acids were found, including three 6-brominated acids. The presence of bacteria was evidenced by the relatively high proportions of phosphatidylglycerol and high levels of branched short-chain fatty acids. A total of 20 free 3beta-hydroxysterols were found by GC/MS, including clerosterol in relatively high amounts and gorgosterol in low amounts. The latter sterol has not been reported to date in a sponge. Comparisons with Cinachyrella species from other geographical areas show marked differences for both phospholipid fatty acid and sterol compositions.

5,9,23-Triacontatrienoic methyl ester, an elastase inhibitor from the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula

A polyethylenic fatty ester was isolated from the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula. The structure was elucidated through NMR spectral data and MS analysis as 5,9,23-triacontatrienoic methyl ester 1. Compound 1 is an elastase inhibitor [ID50 = 10 microg/mL (2 x 10(-5) M)].

Tetillapyrone and nortetillapyrone, two unusual hydroxypyran-2-ones from the marine sponge Tetilla japonica

Extraction of the marine sponge Tetilla japonica from the Bay of Thailand furnished tetillapyrone and nortetillapyrone, two unusual tetrahydrofurylhydroxypyran-2-ones, whose structures were established by NMR spectrometry and an X-ray analysis of tetillapyrone.

Novel fatty acid esters of (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin from the marine sponge Ircinia felix

The methanolic extract of the marine sponge Ircinia felix has yielded nine novel fatty acid esters, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin (5Z, 9Z)-22-methyltricosadienoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin (5Z, 9Z)-tetracosadienoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin hexadecanoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 10-methylhexadecanoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 15-methylhexadecanoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 14-methylhexadecanoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 9-octadecenoate, (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin octadecanoate, and (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 2,11-dimethyloctadecanoate, along with the recently described (7E, 12E, 18R, 20Z)-variabilin 11-methyloctadecanoate. The characterization of the new fatty acids (5Z, 9Z)-22-methyltricosadienoic and 2,11-dimethyloctadecanoic acids is also described. The chemical structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic, chromatographic, and chemical analyses.

Unusually high levels of eicosatetraenoic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic fatty acids in Palestinian freshwater sponges

The fatty acid compositioin of three freshwater sponges-Ephydatia syriaca, Nudospongilla sp., and Cortispongilla barroisi-were studied. Twenty principal fatty acids, and unusually high levels of eicosatetraenoic (5,8,11,14-20:4 up to 10.1% of the total acid mixture), eicosapentaenoic (5,8,11,14,17-20:5 up to 11.6%), and docosahexaenoic acids (4,7,10,13,16,19-22:6 up to 11.8%) were detected. The only demospongic acid found was 5,9,17-hexacosatrienoic acid (1.8-3.7%).

New unsaturated long-chain fatty acids in the phospholipids from the Axinellida sponges Trikentrion loeve and Pseudaxinella cf. lunaecharta

In order to identify new structures and especially those involved as biosynthetic intermediates, the fatty acid composition of whole phospholipids from two Senegalese marine sponges from the order Axinellida, Trikentrion loeve and Pseudaxinella cf. lunaecharta, has been investigated by analytical gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Several new fatty acids were identified as methyl esters and N-acyl pyrrolidides, namely 16-eicosenoic, 11-tetracosenoic, 5-pentacosenoic, 11-hexacosenoic, 11-octacosenoic, 23-triacontenoic, 17,21-hexacosadienoic, 19,23-octacosadienoic, 9,23-triacontadienoic, 5,9,21-hexacosatrienoic, and 5,9,25-triacontatrienoic. Trikentrion loeve and P. cf. lunaecharta contain fifteen (25.7% of the total acid mixture) and thirteen (30.4%) delta 5,9 fatty acids, respectively. Based on gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared experiments, the double bonds were assigned the (Z) configuration. Biosynthesis of dienoic and trienoic demospongic acids possessing an n-5 or an n-7 terminal double bond is discussed.

New branched-chain fatty acids from the Senegalese gorgonian Leptogorgia piccola (white and yellow morphs)

Fatty acids from total lipids of the gorgonian Leptogorgia piccola (white and yellow morphs), collected from the same area at two different periods with regard to the average water temperature, were studied. More than fifty fatty acids were identified as methyl esters and N-acyl pyrrolidides by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Three new, branched-chain unsaturated fatty acids were identified in addition to the unusual 7-methyl-6-hexadecenoic acid, namely 10-methyl-6-hexadecenoic, 7,9-dimethyl-6-hexadecenoic, and 10-methyl-6,9-heptadecadienoic acids. Also 6,9-heptadecadienoic acid was identified. The fatty acid patterns of specimens harvested in colder waters were quite different from those harvested in warmer waters in that the former contained high amounts of methylene-interrupted polyunsaturated acids, including tetracosapolyenoic acids, especially 6,9,12,15,18-24:5 (up to 15.8% of the total acid mixture) and 6,9,12,15,18,21-24:6 (up to 5.3%). Arachidonic acid was, nevertheless, a major component in all the fatty acid mixtures studied (13.6-20.5%). Based on gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared experiments, the double bonds were assigned the (Z) configuration. Several fatty aldehydes and their dimethyl acetals were also detected, of which the most abundant was octadecanal.

The distribution of brominated long-chain fatty acids in sponge and symbiont cell types from the tropical marine sponge Amphimedon terpenensis

The tropical marine sponge Amphimedon terpenensis (family Niphatidae, order Haplosclerida) has previously been shown to possess unusual lipids, including unusual fatty acids. The biosynthetic origin of these fatty acids is of interest as the sponge supports a significant population of eubacterial and cyanobacterial symbionts. The total fatty acid composition of the sponge was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the methyl esters. Among the most abundant of the fatty acids in intact tissue were 16:0, 18:0 and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadecanoic (phytanic) acid. In addition, three brominated fatty acids, (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-tetracosadienoic acid (24:2Br), (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-pentacosadienoic acid (25:2Br) and (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-hexacosadienoic acid (26:2Br) were also present. The three brominated fatty acids, together with phytanic acid, were isolated from both ectosomal (superficial) and choanosomal (internal) regions of the sponge. Analysis of extracts prepared from sponge/symbiont cells, partitioned by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll, indicated that phytanic acid and the three brominated fatty acids were associated with sponge cells only. Further, a fatty acid methyl ester sample from intact tissue of A. terpenensis was partitioned according to phospholipid class, and the brominated fatty acids were shown to be associated with the phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine fractions that are commonly present in marine sponge lipids. The phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol fractions were rich in the relatively shorter chain fatty acids (16:0 and 18:0). The association of brominated long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) with sponge cells has been confirmed. The findings allow comment on the use of fatty acid profiles in chemotaxonomy and permit further interpretation of LCFA biosynthetic pathways in sponges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synthesis of racemic 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol, a pheromone of rice moth and 5,9,13-trimethyltetradecanoic acid, a component of marine sponge from a common intermediate

A facile synthesis of dl-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol (1) a pheromone component of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton and 5,9,13-trimethyltetradecanoic acid (2) a component of marine sponge, Cinachyrella alloclada Uliczka, using a common, intermediate, hexahydrofarnesol is accomplished. The salient features for 1 are: Grignard coupling of 5 with allylmagnesium bromide and oxymercuration-demercuration whereas for 2 they are: Knoevenagel condensation and subsequent hydrogenation.