Sesterterpene sulfates as isocitrate lyase inhibitors from tropical sponge Hippospongia sp

Ochraceopetalin, a Mixed-Biogenetic Salt of Polyketide and Amino Acid Origins from a Marine-Derived Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis Fungus

Ochraceopetalin (1), a mixed-biogenetic salt compound and its component 2 were isolated from the culture broths of a marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis. Based on combined spectroscopic and chemical analyses, the structure of 1 was determined to be a sulfonated diphenylether-aminol-amino acid ester guanidinium salt of an unprecedented structural class, while 2 was determined to be the corresponding sulfonated diphenylether. Ochraceopetaguanidine (3), the other guanidine-bearing aminol amino acid ester component, was also prepared and structurally elucidated. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against K562 and A549 cells.

Hippotulosas A-D: four new sesterterpenes from marine sponge Hippospongia fistulosa Lendenfeld, 1889

Four new sesterterpenes, named as hippotulosas A-D (1-4), and a known sesterterpene furospinulosin-1 (5) were isolated from the marine sponge Hippospongia fistulosa by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and by comparison of the spectral data with those reported in the literature.

Crystal structure of AmpC BER and molecular docking lead to the discovery of broad inhibition activities of halisulfates against β-lactamases

AmpC BER is an extended-spectrum (ES) class C β-lactamase with a two-amino-acid insertion in the H10 helix region located at the boundary of the active site compared with its narrow spectrum progenitor. The crystal structure of the wild-type AmpC BER revealed that the insertion widens the active site by restructuring the flexible H10 helix region, which is the structural basis for its ES activity. Besides, two sulfates originated from the crystallization solution were observed in the active site. The presence of sulfate-binding subsites, together with the recognition of ring-structured chemical scaffolds by AmpC BER, led us to perform in silico molecular docking experiments with halisulfates, natural products isolated from marine sponge. Inspired by the snug fit of halisulfates within the active site, we demonstrated that halisulfate 3 and 5 significantly inhibit ES class C β-lactamases. Especially, halisulfate 5 is comparable to avibactam in terms of inhibition efficiency; it inhibits the nitrocefin-hydrolyzing activity of AmpC BER with a K_i value of 5.87 μM in a competitive manner. Furthermore, halisulfate 5 displayed moderate and weak inhibition activities against class A and class B/D enzymes, respectively. The treatment of β-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) in combination with β-lactam antibiotics is a working strategy to cope with infections by pathogens producing ES β-lactamases. Considering the emergence and dissemination of enzymes insensitive to clinically-used BLIs, the broad inhibition spectrum and structural difference of halisulfates would be used to develop novel BLIs that can escape the bacterial resistance mechanism mediated by β-lactamases.

Bioactive Bianthraquinones and Meroterpenoids from a Marine-Derived Stemphylium sp. Fungus

Three new bianthraquinones, alterporriol Z1-Z3 (1-3), along with three known compounds of the same structural class, were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived Stemphylium sp. fungus. Based upon the results of spectroscopic analyses and ECD measurements, the structures of new compounds were determined to be the 6-6'- (1 and 2) and 1-5'- (3) C-C connected pseudo-dimeric anthraquinones, respectively. Three new meroterpenoids, tricycloalterfurenes E-G (7-9), isolated together with the bianthraquinones from the same fungal culture broth, were structurally elucidated by combined spectroscopic methods. The relative and absolute configurations of these meroterpenoids were determined by modified Mosher's, phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME), and computational methods. The bianthraquinones significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

Manzamine Alkaloids from an Acanthostrongylophora sp. Sponge

Five new manzamine alkaloids (1-5) and new salt forms of two known manzamines (6 and 7), along with seven known compounds (8-14) of the same structural class, were isolated from an Indonesian Acanthostrongylophora sp. sponge. On the basis of the results of combined spectroscopic analyses, the structure of kepulauamine A (1) was determined to possess an unprecedented pyrrolizine moiety, while others were functional group variants of known manzamines. These compounds exhibited weak cytotoxicity, moderate antibacterial activity, and mild inhibition against the enzyme isocitrate lyase.

Meroterpenoids from a Tropical Dysidea sp. Sponge

Six new meroterpenoids (1-6), along with arenarol (7), a known rearranged drimane sesquiterpene hydroquinone, were isolated from a Dysidea sp. sponge collected from the Federated States of Micronesia. On the basis of the results of combined spectroscopic analysis, compound 1 was determined to be the cyclic ether derivative of 7, whereas 2 and 3 were assigned as the corresponding sesquiterpene quinones containing taurine-derived substituents. Compounds 4-6 possess a novel tetracyclic skeleton formed by a direct linkage between the quinone and sesquiterpene moieties. The configurations of these new compounds were assigned on the basis of combined NOESY and ECD analysis. These compounds exhibited cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities and weak inhibition against Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase.

Potential Targets for Antifungal Drug Discovery Based on Growth and Virulence in Candida albicans

Fungal infections, especially infections caused by Candida albicans, remain a challenging problem in clinical settings. Despite the development of more-effective antifungal drugs, their application is limited for various reasons. Thus, alternative treatments with drugs aimed at novel targets in C. albicans are needed. Knowledge of growth and virulence in fungal cells is essential not only to understand their pathogenic mechanisms but also to identify potential antifungal targets. This article reviews the current knowledge of the mechanisms of growth and virulence in C. albicans and examines potential targets for the development of new antifungal drugs.

Lumazine peptides from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus

Terrelumamides A (1) and B (2), two new lumazine-containing peptides, were isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus. From the results of combined spectroscopic and chemical analyses, the structures of these compounds were determined to be linear assemblies of 1-methyllumazine-6-carboxylic acid, an amino acid residue and anthranilic acid methyl ester connected by peptide bonds. These new compounds exhibited pharmacological activity by improving insulin sensitivity, which was evaluated in an adipogenesis model using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, the compounds exhibited fluorescence changes upon binding to DNA, demonstrating their potential applications to DNA sequence recognition.

Potential inhibitors for isocitrate lyase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-M. tuberculosis: a summary

Isocitrate lyase (ICL) is the first enzyme involved in glyoxylate cycle. Many plants and microorganisms are relying on glyoxylate cycle enzymes to survive upon downregulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). In fact, ICL is a potential drug target for MTB in dormancy. With the urge for new antitubercular drug to overcome tuberculosis treat such as multidrug resistant strain and HIV-coinfection, the pace of drug discovery has to be increased. There are many approaches to discovering potential inhibitor for MTB ICL and we hereby review the updated list of them. The potential inhibitors can be either a natural compound or synthetic compound. Moreover, these compounds are not necessary to be discovered only from MTB ICL, as it can also be discovered by a non-MTB ICL. Our review is categorized into four sections, namely, (a) MTB ICL with natural compounds; (b) MTB ICL with synthetic compounds; (c) non-MTB ICL with natural compounds; and (d) non-MTB ICL with synthetic compounds. Each of the approaches is capable of overcoming different challenges of inhibitor discovery. We hope that this paper will benefit the discovery of better inhibitor for ICL.

Recent progress in the development of sortase A inhibitors as novel anti-bacterial virulence agents

Recent progress in the development of sortase A inhibitors as novel anti-virulence drugs for antibacterial therapy has been reviewed.

New hippolide derivatives with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity from the marine sponge Hippospongia lachne

Five new sesterterpenoids, compounds 1–5, have been isolated from the sponge Hippospongia lachne off Yongxing Island in the South China Sea. The structures of compounds 1–5 were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRMS, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. The stereochemistry, including absolute configurations of these compounds, was determined by spectroscopic, chemical, and computational methods. Compounds 1 and 5 showed moderate protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values of 5.2 μM and 8.7 μM, respectively, more potent than previously reported hippolides.

Suvanine sesterterpenes and deacyl irciniasulfonic acids from a tropical Coscinoderma sp. sponge

The suvanines, a new suvanine salt, five new (2, 4-8) and two known sesterterpenes from the same structural class, and two new modified lipids (9 and 10) were isolated from a Coscinoderma sp. sponge collected from Chuuk Island, Micronesia. On the basis of the results of combined spectroscopic and chemical analyses, a new suvanine salt was determined to be the suvanine N,N-dimethyl-1,3-dimethylherbipoline salt (2) and suvanine-lactam derivatives (4-8) formed by condensations between an oxidized furan moiety and amino acids. The lipid metabolites were found to be new derivatives of the taurine-containing deacyl irciniasulfonic acid class. The suvanines exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against the K562 and A549 cell lines, while the new suvanine salt (2) had significant antibacterial activity.

Hippolachnin A, a new antifungal polyketide from the South China Sea sponge Hippospongia lachne

Hippolachnin A (1), a polyketide possessing an unprecedented carbon skeleton with a four-membered ring, was isolated from the South China Sea sponge Hippospongia lachne. The structure was elucidated using MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configuration was determined using a calculated ECD method. Hippolachnin A demonstrated potent antifungal activity against three pathogenic fungi, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Microsporum gypseum, with a MIC value of 0.41 μM for each fungus.

Meroterpenes from marine invertebrates: structures, occurrence, and ecological implications

Meroterpenes are widely distributed among marine organisms; they are particularly abundant within brown algae, but other important sources include microorganisms and invertebrates. In the present review the structures and bioactivities of meroterpenes from marine invertebrates, mainly sponges and tunicates, are summarized. More than 300 molecules, often complex and with unique skeletons originating from intra- and inter-molecular cyclizations, and/or rearrangements, are illustrated. The reported syntheses are mentioned. The issue of a potential microbial link to their biosynthesis is also shortly outlined.

Cyclic Bis-1,3-dialkylpyridiniums from the sponge Haliclona sp

Eight novel cyclic bis-1,3-dialkylpyridiniums, as well as two known compounds from the cyclostellettamine class, were isolated from the sponge Haliclona sp. from Korea. Structures of these novel compounds were determined using combined NMR and FAB-MS/MS analyses. Several of these compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxic and antibacterial activities against A549 cell-line and Gram-positive strains, respectively. The structure-activity relationships of cyclostellettamines are discussed based on their bioactivities.

Cytotoxic sesterterpenoids from a sponge Hippospongia sp

One new pentacyclic sesterterpene, hippospongide A (1), and one new scalarane sesterterpenoid, hippospongide B (2), along with six previously reported known scalarane–type sesterterpenes (3–8), were isolated from a sponge Hippospongia sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. These metabolites are the first pentacyclic sesterterpene and scalarane-type sesterterpenes to be reported from this genus. Compounds 3–5 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against DLD-1, HCT-116, T-47D and K562 cancer cell lines.

Sesterterpenes from the tropical sponge Coscinoderma sp

Eight new sesterterpenes (2, 5, and 10-15), including structurally related pentaprenyl hydroquinones (2 and 5), and seven known ones of the same structural classes were isolated from the sponge Coscinoderma sp., collected from Chuuk Island, Micronesia. On the basis of the results of combined spectroscopic analyses, the new compounds were determined to be derivatives of the halisulfates and suvanine. These compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the K562 cell line and inhibitory activities against isocitrate lyase, sortase A, and Na+/K+-ATPase; significant structure-activity relationships were evident.

Hippolides A-H, acyclic manoalide derivatives from the marine sponge Hippospongia lachne

Eight new acyclic manoalide-related sesterterpenes, hippolides A-H (1-8), together with two known manoalide derivatives, (6E)-neomanoalide (9) and (6Z)-neomanoalide (10), were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Hippospongia lachne. The absolute configurations of 1-8 were established by the modified Mosher's method and CD data. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against A549, HeLa, and HCT-116 cell lines with IC50 values of 5.22×10(-2), 4.80×10(-2), and 9.78 μM, respectively. Compound 1 also showed moderate PTP1B inhibitory activitiy with an IC50 value of 23.81 μM, and compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity against the HCT-116 cell line and PTP1B inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 35.13 and 39.67 μM, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 and 5 showed weak anti-inflammatory activity, with IC50 values of 61.97 and 40.35 μM for PKCγ and PKCα, respectively.

Scalarane sesterterpenes from the sponge Hyatella sp

Five new sesterterpenes (7-11) along with six known compounds (1-6) were isolated from the sponge Hyatella sp., collected off the coast of Soheuksan-do, Korea. Spectroscopic analyses revealed these compounds as scalarane sesterterpenes with oxidized furan moieties (7-10) and a corresponding lactam (11). The compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity, and weak inhibitory activity against isocitrate lyase.

Major roles of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase in bacterial and fungal pathogenesis

The glyoxylate cycle is an anaplerotic pathway of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that allows growth on C(2) compounds by bypassing the CO(2)-generating steps of the TCA cycle. The unique enzymes of this route are isocitrate lyase (ICL) and malate synthase (MS). ICL cleaves isocitrate to glyoxylate and succinate, and MS converts glyoxylate and acetyl-CoA to malate. The end products of the bypass can be used for gluconeogenesis and other biosynthetic processes. The glyoxylate cycle occurs in Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea. Recent studies of ICL- and MS-deficient strains as well as proteomic and transcriptional analyses show that these enzymes are often important in human, animal and plant pathogenesis. These studies have extended our understanding of the metabolic pathways essential for the survival of pathogens inside the host and provide a more complete picture of the physiology of pathogenic micro-organisms. Hopefully, the recent knowledge generated about the role of the glyoxylate cycle in virulence can be used for the development of new vaccines, or specific inhibitors to combat bacterial and fungal diseases.

Bioactive sulfated sesterterpene alkaloids and sesterterpene sulfates from the marine sponge Fasciospongia sp

Two new sulfated sesterterpene alkaloids, 19-oxofasciospongine A (3) and fasciospongine C (4), and a new sesterterpene sulfate, 25-hydroxyhalisulfate 9 (5), along with two known sesterterpene sulfates, halisulfates 7 (6) and 9 (7), were isolated from an organic extract of the marine sponge Fasciospongia sp. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic studies as well as by HRESIMS analysis. Compounds 1-7 exhibited inhibitory activity against Streptomyces 85E in the hyphae-formation inhibition assay. Compounds 1, 2, and 4-7 were not cytotoxic when tested at 20 microg/mL with MCF-7, LNCaP, and LU cell lines. Only compound 3 demonstrated a moderate cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 (IC(50) 13.4 microM), LNCaP (IC(50) 21.8 microM), and LU-1 cells (IC(50) 5.0 microM), respectively.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2007 for marine natural products, with 948 citations(627 for the period January to December 2007) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green algae, brown algae, red algae, sponges, cnidarians,bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms and true mangrove plants. The emphasis is on new compounds (961 for 2007), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.1 Introduction, 2 Reviews, 3 Marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, 4 Green algae, 5 Brown algae, 6 Red algae, 7 Sponges, 8 Cnidarians, 9 Bryozoans, 10 Molluscs, 11 Tunicates (ascidians),12 Echinoderms, 13 Miscellaneous, 14 Conclusion, 15 References.

Scalarane sesterterpenes from the sponge Smenospongia sp

Ten new sesterterpene compounds (4-13) and seven known metabolites (1-3, 14-17) were isolated from the sponge Smenospongia sp. collected from Korean coastal waters. On the basis of combined spectroscopic analyses, the new compounds exhibited diverse functionalities on a common scalarane sesterterpene structure. The presence of a 23-aldehyde on compound 6 and a 20-carboxylic acid on 11 is unprecedented among sponge-derived scalarane sesterterpenes. Several of the new compounds showed significant cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity, as well as moderate inhibitory activity against isocitrate lyase.

Meroditerpenoids from the brown alga Sargassum siliquastrum

Eleven new meroditerpenoids (7-11, 14-17, 19, 20) and nine known compounds (1-6, 12, 13, 18) were isolated from the brown alga Sargassum siliquastrum. Combined chemical and spectroscopic analyses revealed a common tetraprenyl hydroquinone structure; these compounds belonged to the nahocol, isonahocol, and sargahydroquinoic acid classes. The dihydroquinone moiety of 20 was unique and unprecedented in a brown alga. Stereochemical assignments were made for several of the known compounds based on their chemical reactivity. These compounds exhibited moderate to significant radical-scavenging activity as well as weak inhibitory activities against sortase A and isocitrate lyase.

Inhibition of Candida albicans isocitrate lyase activity by sesterterpene sulfates from the tropical sponge Dysidea sp

Seven sesterterpene sulfates (1-7) were isolated from the tropical sponge Dysidea sp. and their inhibitory activities against isocitrate lyase (ICL) from Candida albicans were evaluated. Among the isolated natural products compound 6 and 7 were found to be strong ICL inhibitors. The isolated compounds (1-7) also showed potent antibacterial effect against Bacillus subtilis and Proteus vulgaris, but did not display antifungal activity.

Synthesis and evaluation of hydroquinone derivatives as inhibitors of isocitrate lyase

Isocitrate lyase (ICL) is envisaged as an attractive drug target for the development of antimicrobial agents. We have prepared a series of hydroquinone derivatives on the basis of the structure of halisulfates, a naturally occurring inhibitor of ICL. The obtained derivatives were evaluated against ICL of C. albicans. The preliminary structure-activity relationships and the minimal structural requirements for potency were established through structural modifications.

Inhibition of infection of the rice blast fungus by halisulfate 1, an isocitrate lyase inhibitor

Halisulfate 1, a sesterterpene sulfate and an isocitrate lyase (ICL) inhibitor that is isolated from tropical sponge Hippospongia spp., reduces both appressorium formation and infection of rice plants by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea. Rice plants infected with wild-type M. grisea Guy 11 exhibited significantly lower disease severity after halisulfate 1 treatment than without, and the treatment effect was comparable to the behavior of the Delta icl knockout mutant I-10. The protection observed upon applying halisulfate 1 to rice plants suggests that the ICL inhibitor may be a promising candidate for crop protection, particularly to protect rice plants against M. grisea.