1
|
Evidente A. The incredible story of ophiobolin A and sphaeropsidin A: two fungal terpenes from wilt-inducing phytotoxins to promising anticancer compounds. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:434-468. [PMID: 38131643 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00035d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 to 2023This review presents the exceptional story of ophiobolin A (OphA) and sphaeropsidin A (SphA), a sesterterpene and a diterpene, respectively, which were initially isolated as fungal phytotoxins and subsequently shown to possess other interesting biological activities, including promising anticancer activities. Ophiobolin A is a phytotoxin produced by different fungal pathogens, all belonging to the Bipolaris genus. Initially, it was only known as a very dangerous phytotoxin produced by fungi attacking essential cereals, such as rice and barley. However, extensive and interesting studies were carried out to define its original carbon skeleton, which is characterized by a typical 5 : 8 : 5 ring system and shared with fusicoccins and cotylenins, and its phytotoxic activity on host and non-host plants. The biosynthesis of OphA was also defined by describing the different steps starting from mevalonate and through the rearrangement of the acyclic C-25 precursor lead the toxin is obtained. OphA was also produced as a bioherbicide from Drechslera gigantea and proposed for the biocontrol of the widespread and dangerous weed Digitaria sanguinaria. To date, more than sixty ophiobolins have been isolated from different fungi and their biological activities and structure-activity relationship investigated, which were also described using their hemisynthetic derivatives. In the last two decades, thorough studies have been performed on the potential anticancer activity of OphA and its original mode of action, attracting great interest from scientists. Sphaeropsidin A has a similar story. It was isolated as the main phytotoxin from Diplodia cupressi, the causal agent of Italian cypress canker disease, resulting in the loss of millions of plants in a few years in the Mediterranean basin. The damage to the forest, environment and ornamental heritage are noteworthy and economic losses are also suffered by tree nurseries and the wood industry. Six natural analogues of SphA were isolated and several interesting hemisynthetic derivatives were prepared to study its structure-activity relationship. Surprisingly, sphaeropsidin A showed other interesting biological activities, including antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral. In the last decade, extensive studies have focused on the anticancer activity and original mode of action of SphA. Furthermore, specific hemisynthetic studies enable the preparation of derivatives of SphA, preserving its chromophore, which showed a noteworthy increase in anticancer activity. It has been demonstrated that ophiobolin A and sphaeropsidin A are promising natural products showing potent activity against some malignant cancers, such as brain glioblastoma and different melanomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Evidente
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Via Amendola 122/O, 70125 Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Masi M, Di Lecce R, Calice U, Linaldeddu BT, Maddau L, Superchi S, Evidente A. Diplofuranoxin, a disubstituted dihydrofuranone, was produced together with sphaeropsidin A and epi-sphaeropsidone by Diplodia subglobosa, an emerging ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) pathogen in Europe. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2022; 202:113302. [PMID: 35810877 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113302] [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] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An undescribed disubstituted dihydrofuranone, named diplofuranoxin, was isolated, together with the six well known metabolites sphaeropsidins A and C, epi-sphaeropsidone, mellein and cis- and trans-4-hydroxymelleins, from the fungal species Diplodia subglobosa, an emerging pathogen involved in the ash dieback aetiology in Europe. Currently, the disease represents the main threat to European ash heritage and the wood associated industry. Diplofuranoxin, was characterized essentially by NMR and HRESIMS spectra as (3Z)-3-(2,3-dihydroxybutylidene)-5-methyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one. Its relative and absolute configuration was determined by joining NOESY NMR experiments and computational analysis of electronic circular dichroism spectrum. All the metabolites were screened for phytotoxic, antioomycetes and zootoxic activities and only sphaeropsidin A and epi-sphaeropsidone were active in two out of three bioassays performed. In addition, sphaeropsidin A completely inhibited mycelium growth of Phytophthora cambivora, whereas the inhibition rate of epi-sphaeropsidone was less than 50% at the higher concentration used. Both metabolites were inactive in the Artemia salina assay. Results obtained in this study have allowed to characterize for the first time the main metabolites produced in vitro by D. subglobosa and to increase the knowledge on the metabolic profile of Botryosphaeriaceae for a correct taxonomic classification of the strains belonging to this family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Masi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Di Lecce
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Umberto Calice
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università della Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu
- Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro, 35020, Italy
| | - Lucia Maddau
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Stefano Superchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università della Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Masi M, Evidente A. Sphaeropsidin A: a Pimarane Diterpene with Interesting Biological Activities and Promising Practical Applications. Chembiochem 2021; 22:3263-3269. [PMID: 34241944 PMCID: PMC9292566 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sphaeropsidin A (SphA) is a tetracyclic pimarane diterpene, first isolated as the main phytotoxin produced by Diplodia cupressi the causal agent of a severe canker disease of Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). It was also produced, together with several analogues, by different pathogenic Diplodia species and other fungi and showed a broad array of biological activities suggesting its promising application in agriculture and medicine. The anticancer activity of SphA is very potent and cell specific. Recent studies have revealed its unique mode of action. This minireview reports the structures of SphA and its family of natural analogues, their biosynthetic origins, their fungal sources, and biological activities. The preparation of various SphA derivatives is also described as well as the results of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and on their potential practical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Masi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
van der Westhuyzen AE, Ingels A, Rosière R, Amighi K, Oberer L, Gustafson KR, Wang D, Evidente A, Maddau L, Masi M, de Villiers A, Green IR, Berger W, Kornienko A, Mathieu V, van Otterlo WAL. Deciphering the chemical instability of sphaeropsidin A under physiological conditions - degradation studies and structural elucidation of the major metabolite. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 18:8147-8160. [PMID: 33016969 PMCID: PMC7881364 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob01586e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The fungal metabolite sphaeropsidin A (SphA) has been recognised for its promising cytotoxicity, particularly towards apoptosis- and multidrug-resistant cancers. Owing to its intriguing activity, the development of SphA as a potential anticancer agent has been pursued. However, this endeavour is compromised since SphA exhibits poor physicochemical stability under physiological conditions. Herein, SphA's instability in biological media was explored utilizing LC-MS. Notably, the degradation tendency was found to be markedly enhanced in the presence of amino acids in the cell medium utilized. Furthermore, the study investigated the presence of degradation adducts, including the identification, isolation and structural elucidation of a major degradation metabolite, (4R)-4,4',4'-trimethyl-3'-oxo-4-vinyl-4',5',6',7'-tetrahydro-3'H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1'-isobenzofuran]-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid. Considering the reduced cytotoxic potency of aged SphA solutions, as well as that of the isolated degradation metabolite, the reported antiproliferative activity has been attributed primarily to the parent compound (SphA) and not its degradation species. The fact that SphA continues to exhibit remarkable bioactivity, despite being susceptible to degradation, motivates future research efforts to address the challenges associated with this instability impediment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alet E van der Westhuyzen
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7600, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - Aude Ingels
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe, Accès 2, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium. and ULB Cancer Research Center, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Rémi Rosière
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe, Accès 2, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium.
| | - Karim Amighi
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe, Accès 2, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium.
| | - Lukas Oberer
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Global Discovery Chemistry, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kirk R Gustafson
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA
| | - Dongdong Wang
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Maddau
- Department of Agriculture, Section of Plant Pathology and Entomology, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Masi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - André de Villiers
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7600, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - Ivan R Green
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7600, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - Walter Berger
- Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Kornienko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas 78666, USA
| | - Veronique Mathieu
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe, Accès 2, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium. and ULB Cancer Research Center, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Willem A L van Otterlo
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7600, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Roscetto E, Masi M, Esposito M, Di Lecce R, Delicato A, Maddau L, Calabrò V, Evidente A, Catania MR. Anti-Biofilm Activity of the Fungal Phytotoxin Sphaeropsidin A Against Clinical Isolates of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E444. [PMID: 32650496 PMCID: PMC7404997 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12070444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens involved in human infection have rapidly increased their antibiotic resistance, reducing the effectiveness of therapies in recent decades. Most of them can form biofilms and effective drugs are not available to treat these formations. Natural products could represent an efficient solution in discovering and developing new drugs to overcome antimicrobial resistance and treat biofilm-related infections. In this study, 20 secondary metabolites produced by pathogenic fungi of forest plants and belonging to diverse classes of naturally occurring compounds were evaluated for the first time against clinical isolates of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. epi-Epoformin, sphaeropsidone, and sphaeropsidin A showed antimicrobial activity on all test strains. In particular, sphaeropsidin A was effective at low concentrations with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values ranging from 6.25 μg/mL to 12.5 μg/mL against all reference and clinical test strains. Furthermore, sphaeropsidin A at sub-inhibitory concentrations decreased methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, as quantified by crystal violet staining. Interestingly, mixtures of sphaeropsidin A and epi-epoformin have shown antimicrobial synergistic effects with a concomitant reduction of cytotoxicity against human immortalized keratinocytes. Our data show that sphaeropsidin A and epi-epoformin possess promising antimicrobial properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Roscetto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.E.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Marco Masi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.E.)
| | - Matilde Esposito
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.E.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Roberta Di Lecce
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.E.)
| | - Antonella Delicato
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.); (V.C.)
| | - Lucia Maddau
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Viola Calabrò
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.); (V.C.)
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.E.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.E.); (M.R.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Reveglia P, Cimmino A, Masi M, Nocera P, Berova N, Ellestad G, Evidente A. Pimarane diterpenes: Natural source, stereochemical configuration, and biological activity. Chirality 2018; 30:1115-1134. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.23009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Reveglia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università di Napoli Federico II; Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo; Naples Italy
| | - Alessio Cimmino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università di Napoli Federico II; Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo; Naples Italy
| | - Marco Masi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università di Napoli Federico II; Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo; Naples Italy
| | - Paola Nocera
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università di Napoli Federico II; Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo; Naples Italy
| | - Nina Berova
- Department of Chemistry; Columbia University; New York NY USA
| | - George Ellestad
- Department of Chemistry; Columbia University; New York NY USA
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università di Napoli Federico II; Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo; Naples Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fungal Metabolite Antagonists of Plant Pests and Human Pathogens: Structure-Activity Relationship Studies. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23040834. [PMID: 29621148 PMCID: PMC6017029 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are able to produce many bioactive secondary metabolites that belong to different classes of natural compounds. Some of these compounds have been selected for their antagonism against pests and human pathogens and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies have been performed to better understand which structural features are essential for the biological activity. In some cases, these studies allowed for the obtaining of hemisynthetic derivatives with increased selectivity and stability in respect to the natural products as well as reduced toxicity in view of their potential practical applications. This review deals with the SAR studies performed on fungal metabolites with potential fungicidal, bactericidal, insecticidal, and herbicidal activities from 1990 to the present (beginning of 2018).
Collapse
|
8
|
Cimmino A, Nocera P, Linaldeddu BT, Masi M, Gorecki M, Pescitelli G, Montecchio L, Maddau L, Evidente A. Phytotoxic Metabolites Produced by Diaporthella cryptica, the Causal Agent of Hazelnut Branch Canker. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:3435-3442. [PMID: 29537269 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
From the culture filtrates of Diaporthella cryptica, an emerging hazelnut pathogen, 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate methyl ester and its 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) and 3-(1 H-indol-3-yl) analogues, named crypticins A-C, were isolated together with the well-known tyrosol. Crypticins A-C were identified by spectroscopic (essentially nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) methods. The R absolute configuration (AC) of crypticin A was determined by comparing its optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum with those of papuline, the methyl ester of (-)( S)-phenyllactic acid isolated as the main phytotoxin of Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans, responsible for apple blister spot. The ACs of crypticins B and C were determined by time-dependent density functional theory calculations of their ECD spectra. Papuline and the new metabolites herein isolated, except tyrosol, were tested at 1 mg/mL on cork oak, grapevine, hazelnut, and holm oak leaves using the leaf puncture assay. They were also tested on tomato cuttings at 0.5 and 0.05 mg/mL. In the leaf puncture assay, none of the compounds was found to be active. Crypticin C and papuline were active in the tomato cutting assay. Additionally, crypticin C displayed moderate inhibitory effect against Phytophthora cambivora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cimmino
- Dipartimento Scienze Chimiche , Università di Napoli Federico II , Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4 , Napoli 80126 , Italy
| | - Paola Nocera
- Dipartimento Scienze Chimiche , Università di Napoli Federico II , Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4 , Napoli 80126 , Italy
| | - Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu
- Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali , Università di Padova , Viale dell'Università 16 , Legnaro , Padova 35020 , Italy
| | - Marco Masi
- Dipartimento Scienze Chimiche , Università di Napoli Federico II , Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4 , Napoli 80126 , Italy
| | - Marcin Gorecki
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale , Università di Pisa , Via Moruzzi, 13 , Pisa 56124 , Italy
| | - Gennaro Pescitelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale , Università di Pisa , Via Moruzzi, 13 , Pisa 56124 , Italy
| | - Lucio Montecchio
- Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali , Università di Padova , Viale dell'Università 16 , Legnaro , Padova 35020 , Italy
| | - Lucia Maddau
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia , Università degli Studi di Sassari , Viale Italia 39 , Sassari 07100 , Italy
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento Scienze Chimiche , Università di Napoli Federico II , Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4 , Napoli 80126 , Italy
| |
Collapse
|