Pyrone and pyridone compounds in the liquid culture of Physisporinus sanguinolentus

Unprecedented spirodioxynaphthalenes from the endophytic fungus Phyllosticta ligustricola HDF-L-2 derived from the endangered conifer Pseudotsuga gaussenii

Four undescribed palmarumycin-type spirodioxynaphthalenes (phyligustricins A-D) and a known biogenetic precursor (palmarumycin BG1) were isolated from a solid fermentation of Phyllosticta ligustricola HDF-L-2, an endophyte associated with the endangered Chinese conifer Pseudotsuga gaussenii. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Both phyligustricins A and B have an unprecedented spirodioxynaphthalene-derived skeleton containing an extra 4H-furo [3,2-c]pyran-4-one moiety, while phyligustricins C and D are p-hydroxy-phenethyl substituted spirodioxynaphthalenes. The plausible biosynthetic relationships of the isolates were briefly proposed. Phyligustricins C and D and palmarumycin BG1 showed considerable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, each with an MIC value of 16 μg/mL. Palmarumycin BG1 displayed significant inhibitory effects against ACL and ACC1, with IC₅₀ values of 1.60 and 8.00 μM, respectively.

Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of 4-Hydroxypyridine Catabolism in Arthrobacter sp. Strain IN13

N-Heterocyclic compounds are widely spread in the biosphere, being constituents of alkaloids, cofactors, allelochemicals, and artificial substances. However, the fate of such compounds including a catabolism of hydroxylated pyridines is not yet fully understood. Arthrobacter sp. IN13 is capable of using 4-hydroxypyridine as a sole source of carbon and energy. Three substrate-inducible proteins were detected by comparing protein expression profiles, and peptide mass fingerprinting was performed using MS/MS. After partial sequencing of the genome, we were able to locate genes encoding 4-hydroxypyridine-inducible proteins and identify the kpi gene cluster consisting of 16 open reading frames. The recombinant expression of genes from this locus in Escherichia coli and Rhodococcus erytropolis SQ1 allowed an elucidation of the biochemical functions of the proteins. We report that in Arthrobacter sp. IN13, the initial hydroxylation of 4-hydroxypyridine is catalyzed by a flavin-dependent monooxygenase (KpiA). A product of the monooxygenase reaction is identified as 3,4-dihydroxypyridine, and a subsequent oxidative opening of the ring is performed by a hypothetical amidohydrolase (KpiC). The 3-(N-formyl)-formiminopyruvate formed in this reaction is further converted by KpiB hydrolase to 3-formylpyruvate. Thus, the degradation of 4-hydroxypyridine in Arthrobacter sp. IN13 was analyzed at genetic and biochemical levels, elucidating this catabolic pathway.

Anti-inflammatory Metabolites from Chaetomium nigricolor

Twelve metabolites were obtained from the culture media of Chaetomium nigricolor, including a new furan derivative, methyl succinyl Sumiki's acid (1), and two new atropisomers of the previously reported bis-naphtho-γ-pyrones, (aS)-asperpyrone A and (aS)-fonsecinone A (2 and 3). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic, chemical, and chiroptical techniques. Compounds 2 and 3 inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compound 2 was found to inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation, in turn suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines including nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-12.

Identification of 21,22-Dehydroazaspiracids in Mussels ( Mytilus edulis) and in Vitro Toxicity of Azaspiracid-26

Azaspiracids (AZAs) are marine biotoxins produced by the genera Azadinium and Amphidoma, pelagic marine dinoflagellates that may accumulate in shellfish resulting in human illness following consumption. The complexity of these toxins has been well documented, with more than 40 structural variants reported that are produced by dinoflagellates, result from metabolism in shellfish, or are extraction artifacts. Approximately 34 μg of a new AZA with MW 823 Da (AZA26 (3)) was isolated from blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis), and its structure determined by MS and NMR spectroscopy. AZA26, possibly a bioconversion product of AZA5, lacked the C-20-C-21 diol present in all AZAs reported thus far and had a 21,22-olefin and a keto group at C-23. Toxicological assessment of 3 using an in vitro model system based on Jurkat T lymphocyte cells showed the potency to be ∼30-fold lower than that of AZA1. The corresponding 21,22-dehydro-23-oxo-analogue of AZA10 (AZA28) and 21,22-dehydro analogues of AZA3, -4, -5, -6, -9, and -10 (AZA25, -48 (4), -60, -27, -49, and -61, respectively) were also identified by HRMS/MS, periodate cleavage reactivity, conversion from known analogues, and NMR (for 4 that was present in a partially purified sample of AZA7).

Fungal wars: The underlying molecular repertoires of combating mycelia

Non-self contact between fungi elicits strong morphological and biochemical reactions in the mycelia of interacting species. Although these reactions appear to be species- and interaction-specific, some responses such as pigmentation, increased secretion of phenol-oxidases, barrage formation and sealing of the mycelia front are common responses in most interactions. Hence, some species recruit similar molecular machineries in response to non-self. Increasing number of fully sequenced and annotated fungal genomes and advances in genome-wide and global proteome analytical tools now allow researchers to use techniques such as RNA sequencing, micro and macroarray analysis, 2-dimensional protein gel profiling, and differential display of mRNA to probe the underlying molecular mechanisms of combative mycelial interactions. This review provides an overview of the genes and proteins found to be differentially expressed in conflicting fungal mycelia by the use of 'omics' tools. Connections between observed gene and protein repertoires of competing mycelia and the attendant morphological and biochemical changes are presented.

Differential gene expression during interactions between Heterobasidion annosum and Physisporinus sanguinolentus

Using mRNA differential display we have identified differentially expressed genes in non-self-interacting vs. single mycelia of the conifer pathogen Heterobasidion annosum and the wood decomposing basidiomycete Physisporinus sanguinolentus. Altogether 39 differentially displayed bands were cloned and sequenced, corresponding to 21 unique genes, which were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR to be differentially expressed. Further confirmation of differential gene expression was made by real time RT-PCR. All 10 genes identified from P. sanguinolentus had lower expression, while in H. annosum three genes had higher and eight lower expression in non-self-interacting mycelia vs. single mycelia. One of the induced genes showed high similarity to the Coprinus cinereus recA/RAD51 homolog (rah1) which is essential for homologous recombination, DNA repair and stress responses.

Phelligridins C-F: cytotoxic pyrano[4,3-c][2]benzopyran-1,6-dione and furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-one derivatives from the fungus Phellinus igniarius

Three unique pyrano[4,3-c][2]benzopyran-1,6-dione derivatives and a new furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-one, named phelligridins C-F (2-5), together with hispolon (8), (E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (9), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, protocatechualdehyde, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, isoergosterone, and octadecyl ferulate were isolated and identified from the ethanolic extract of Phellinus igniarius. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The structures of the new compounds were characterized as 3-(4-hydroxystyryl)-8,9-dihydroxypyrano[4,3-c]isochromene-4-one (2), 3-(3,4-hydroxystyryl)-8,9-dihydroxypyrano[4,3-c]isochromene-4-one (3), 8,9-dihydroxy-3-[5',6'-dihydroxy-5' '-methyl-3' '-oxo-spiro[fural-2' '(3' 'H),1'-indene]-2'-yl]-1H,6H-pyrano[4,3-c][2]benzopyran-1,6-dione (4), and (3Z)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-6-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-2,3-dihydro-2-methoxy-2-(2-oxo-propyl)furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-one (5), respectively. Some compounds including 2 and 3 showed in vitro selective cytotoxicity against a human lung cancer cell line (A549) and a liver cancer cell line (Bel7402). Possible biogenetic sequences to the formation of 1-9 are postulated.