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Huang X, Li D, Long B, Li H, Li J, Wang W, Xu K, Yu X. Activation of a Silent Gene Cluster from the Endophytic Fungus Talaromyces sp. Unearths Cryptic Azaphilone Metabolites. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:15801-15810. [PMID: 38962874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Fungal azaphilones have attracted widespread attention due to their significant potential as sources of food pigments and pharmaceuticals. Genome mining and gene cluster activation represent powerful tools and strategies for discovering novel natural products and bioactive molecules. Here, a putative azaphilone biosynthetic gene cluster lut from the endophytic fungus Talaromyces sp. was identified through genome mining. By overexpressing the pathway-specific transcription factor LutB, five new sclerotiorin-type azaphilones (1, 6, 8, and 10-11) together with seven known analogues (2-5, 7, 9, 12) were successfully produced. Compounds 8 and 9 exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC values of 64 and 16 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 11 showed cytotoxic activity against HCT116 and GES-1 with IC50 values of 10.9 and 4.9 μM, respectively, while 1, 4, 5, and 7-10 showed no obvious cytotoxic activity. Gene inactivation experiments confirmed the role of the lut cluster in the production of compounds 1-12. Subsequent feeding experiments unveiled the novel functional diversity of the dual megasynthase system. Furthermore, a LutC-LutD binary oxidoreductase system was discovered, and in combination with DFT calculations, the basic biosynthetic pathway of the sclerotiorin-type azaphilones was characterized. This study provided a good example for the discovery of new azaphilones and further uncovered the biosynthesis of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Huang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Dan Li
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Bi Long
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Haidi Li
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Jing Li
- Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Wenxuan Wang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Kangping Xu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Xia Yu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
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Bao J, Zhao YF, Wang XX, Zhu K, Ao R, Liu H, Li XX, Zhang JS, Zhang H. Azaphilone pigments from the marine-derived Penicillium sclerotium UJNMF 0503 and their neuroprotective potential against H 2O 2-induced cell apoptosis through modulating PI3K/Akt pathway. Bioorg Chem 2024; 148:107434. [PMID: 38744168 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Azaphilones represent a particular group of fascinating pigments from fungal source, with easier industrialization and lower cost than the traditional plant-derived pigments, and they also display a wide range of pharmacological activities. Herein, 28 azaphilone analogs, including 12 new ones, were obtained from the fermentation culture of a marine fungus Penicillium sclerotium UJNMF 0503. Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR and ECD analyses, together with NMR and ECD calculations and biogenetic considerations. Among them, compounds 1 and 2 feature an unusual natural benzo[d][1,3]dioxepine ring embedded with an orthoformate unit, while 3 and 4 represent the first azaphilone examples incorporating a novel rearranged 5/6 bicyclic core and a tetrahydropyran ring on the side chain, respectively. Our bioassays revealed that half of the isolates exhibited neuroprotective potential against H2O2-induced injury on RSC96 cells, while compound 13 displayed the best rescuing capacity toward the cell viability by blocking cellular apoptosis, which was likely achieved by upregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Bao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Yan-Fen Zhao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Xin-Xin Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Kongkai Zhu
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Rui Ao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Haishan Liu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Jun-Sheng Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, 336 West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, China.
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He L, Liu C, Chen S, Zhang J, Gao M, Li L. Precursor-directed production of water-soluble red Monascus pigments with high thermal stability via azaphilic addition reaction-based semi-synthesis. Food Chem X 2023; 20:100940. [PMID: 38144809 PMCID: PMC10739767 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Red Monascus pigments (MPs) are a large group of polyketides from the fungus Monascus which have been widely used as food colorants. In this study, a variety of red MPs congeners were prepared to explore promising water-soluble candidates for application in liquid food formulations. The results showed that by combining the two-stage, low-pH fermentation strategy with a downstream purification step of fractional crystallization, precursors of red MPs, namely monascorubrin and rubropunctatin, were obtained with a purity of 91.9%. Then, via the azaphilic addition reaction, 18 types of red MPs congeners carrying different amino acid moieties (MPs-aa) were semi-synthesized. Compared to rubropunctamine and monascorubramine, the water solubility, pH and thermal stability of MPs-aa were improved greatly. MPs-His, MPs-Phe, MPs-Tyr and MPs-Trp were identified to be the most resistant to pasteurization. These findings provide water-soluble red MPs candidates with high thermal stability and an attractive approach for their large scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linman He
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Cai Liu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Suo Chen
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Jialan Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Mengxiang Gao
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Li Li
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
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Zang W, Li M, Sun J, Gao C, Wang L. Two New Species of Talaromyces Sect. Trachyspermi Discovered in China. Mycopathologia 2023; 188:793-804. [PMID: 37698735 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-023-00784-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Two new species of sect. Trachyspermi isolated from soil are proposed, namely, T. albidus (ex-type AS3.26143T) and T. rubidus (ex-type AS3.26142T), based on the integrated taxonomic methods. Morphologically, T. albidus is characterized by slow growth, white gymnothecia, singly-borne asci and ellipsoidal echinulate ascospores. Talaromyces rubidus is distinguished by restricted growth, moderate to abundant red soluble pigment on CYA and YES, biverticillate penicilli, and commonly ovoid to globose echinulate conidia. The two proposed novelties are further confirmed by the phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated BenA-CaM-Rpb2-ITS sequence matrix and the individual BenA, CaM, Rpb2 and ITS sequence matrices. Talaromyces albidus is closely related to T. assiutensis and T. trachyspermus, while T. rubidus is in the clade containing T. albobiverticillius, T. rubrifaciens, T. catalonicus, T. heiheensis, T. erythromellis, T. halophytorum, T. pernambucoensis, T. solicola and T. aerius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zang
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mi Li
- Institute of Marine Drugs, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, Guangxi, China
| | - Jianqiu Sun
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chenghai Gao
- Institute of Marine Drugs, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, Guangxi, China
| | - Long Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Xue Y, Wang L, Zhang X, Wang Z. Terminal carboxylation of branched carbon chain contributing to acidic stability of azaphilone pigments from a new isolate of Talaromyces amestolkiae. Food Chem 2023; 424:136338. [PMID: 37207602 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Red Monascus pigments, a series of natural azaphilone alkaloids, have been utilized in China as a traditional food colorant for over 1000 years. However, instability under an acidic condition is its drawback. A new strain of Talaromyces amestolkiae was isolated in the present work, which produced the azaphilone talaromycorubrin and the corresponding azaphilone alkaloid (N-MSG-talaromycorubramine) exhibiting good stability even at pH below 3. The azaphilone alkaloid with acidic stability, an alternative of Chinese traditional red Monascus pigments, is potential for application as natural food colorant in acidic foods. The acidic stability of azaphilone alkaloid also benefits for direct fermentation of N-MSG-talaromycorubramine under a low pH condition. More importantly, correlation relationship between the terminal carboxylation of branched carbon chain of azaphilone and the stability of azaphilone alkaloids under an acidic condition is set up for the first time, which makes designing other acidic stable azaphilone alkaloids via genetic engineering become possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Long Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xuehong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhilong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Antipova TV, Zhelifonova VP, Zaitsev KV, Vainshtein MB. Fungal Azaphilone Pigments as Promising Natural Colorants. Microbiology (Reading) 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026261722601737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
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Antipova TV, Zhelifonova V, Zaitsev KV, Zherebker A, Baskunov B, Oprunenko YF. Formation of Azaphilone Pigments and Monasnicotinic Acid by the Fungus Aspergillus cavernicola. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:7122-7129. [PMID: 35649262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the ever-increasing demand for healthy and safe food, much attention has been gained by natural food colorants. This study showed the culture fluid extract of the fungus Aspergillus cavernicola VKM F-906 to contain red pigment and monasnicotinic acid (MNA) in predominant amounts. The structure of the pigment corresponded to cis-cavernamine (red pigment, RP). Two tautomers, NH and OH forms, in rapid equilibrium were present in a solution of RP. The critical factors for RP to form were the presence of NH4+ salt and pH 6.3-6.5. In vitro experiments showed that MNA was synthesized from RP as a result of chemical transformations without the participation of enzymes. In this case, the main influence on the reaction rate is exerted by the pH of the medium, which is associated with the keto-enol tautomerism of RP in solution. The culture broth extract and MNA exhibited antifungal activity against Fusarium fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana V Antipova
- FSBIS FRC Pushchino Scientific Centre of Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms RAS, Pushchino 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Valentina Zhelifonova
- FSBIS FRC Pushchino Scientific Centre of Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms RAS, Pushchino 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Kirill V Zaitsev
- Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander Zherebker
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 121205, Russian Federation
| | - Boris Baskunov
- FSBIS FRC Pushchino Scientific Centre of Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms RAS, Pushchino 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Yuri F Oprunenko
- Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
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