Synthesis and convenient functionalization of azide-labeled diacylglycerol analogues for modular access to biologically active lipid probes

Cell membrane lipids have been identified as key participants in cell signaling activities. One important role is their involvement as site-specific ligands in protein-membrane binding interactions, which result in the anchoring of peripheral proteins onto cellular membranes. These events generally regulate protein function and localization and have been implicated in both normal physiological processes and those pertaining to disease state onset. Thus, it is important to elucidate the details of interactions at the molecular level, such as lipid-binding specificities and affinities, the location of receptor binding domains and multivalency in binding. For this purpose, we have designed and developed azido-tagged lipid analogues as conveniently functionalizable lipid probe scaffolds. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of the initial structure of this type, diacylglycerol analogue 2, which contains an azide tag at the sn-1 position of the lipid headgroup. Direct functionalization of this compound with a range of reporter groups has been performed to illustrate the facile access to probes of use for characterizing binding. Quantitative lipid-binding studies using protein kinase C, a known DAG-binding receptor, demonstrate that these probes are active mimetics of natural DAG. Thus, these DAG probes will serve as robust sensors for studies aimed at understanding binding interactions and as precursors for the development of analogous probes of more complex phospholipids and glycolipids.

Pseudoceratins A and B, antifungal bicyclic bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina purpurea

Pseudoceratins A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina purpurea. Pseudoceratins are unique among the large class of bromotyrosine-derived sponge metabolites with respect to the substitution pattern of aromatic rings and the presence of spiroacetal and oxime ether functional groups as well as an 1,5-diamino-1,5-dideoxy-D-arabitol tether. Pseudoceratins A (1) and B (2) are epimeric differing in the orientation of the tether. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectral data. The rigidity of the compounds arising from their bridged structure gave ROESY/NOESY spectra with many transannular cross-peaks, which allowed the assignment of the relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 to be established. The d-configuration of the 1,5-diamino-1,5-dideoxyarabitol unit was determined by converting the fragment isolated from the acid hydrolysate to the Mosher's ester and compared the 1H NMR spectrum with those of standard samples. Pseudoceratins exhibited significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans.