1
|
Ingels A, Scott R, Hooper AR, van der Westhuyzen AE, Wagh SB, de Meester J, Maddau L, Marko D, Aichinger G, Berger W, Vermeersch M, Pérez-Morga D, Maslivetc VA, Evidente A, van Otterlo WAL, Kornienko A, Mathieu V. New hemisynthetic derivatives of sphaeropsidin phytotoxins triggering severe endoplasmic reticulum swelling in cancer cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14674. [PMID: 38918539 PMCID: PMC11199504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65335-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sphaeropsidins are iso-pimarane diterpenes produced by phytopathogenic fungi that display promising anticancer activities. Sphaeropsidin A, in particular, has been shown to counteract regulatory volume increase, a process used by cancer cells to avoid apoptosis. This study reports the hemi-synthesis of new lipophilic derivatives obtained by modifications of the C15,C16-alkene moiety. Several of these compounds triggered severe ER swelling associated with strong proteasomal inhibition and consequently cell death, a feature that was not observed with respect to mode of action of the natural product. Significantly, an analysis from the National Cancer Institute sixty cell line testing did not reveal any correlations between the most potent derivative and any other compound in the database, except at high concentrations (LC50). This study led to the discovery of a new set of sphaeropsidin derivatives that may be exploited as potential anti-cancer agents, notably due to their maintained activity towards multidrug resistant models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aude Ingels
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- ULB Cancer Research Center, U-CRC, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Scott
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Annie R Hooper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Aletta E van der Westhuyzen
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Sachin B Wagh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Joséphine de Meester
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Lucia Maddau
- Department of Agriculture, Section of Plant Pathology and Entomology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Doris Marko
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Aichinger
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Berger
- Medical University of Vienna Center for Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marjorie Vermeersch
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - David Pérez-Morga
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Vladimir A Maslivetc
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Willem A L van Otterlo
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Alexander Kornienko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Véronique Mathieu
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutics, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- ULB Cancer Research Center, U-CRC, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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
|
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
|