Conjugated ketonic fatty acids from Pleurocybella porrigens

Therapeutic target mapping from the genome of Kingella negevensis and biophysical inhibition assessment through PNP synthase binding with traditional medicinal compounds

Kingella negevensis belongs to the Neisseriaceae family. It is implied that it has significant virulence potential due to RTX toxin production, which can cause hemolysis. It usually colonizes the orophayrynx of pediatric population, along with Kingella kingae but has also been isolated from vagina. Todate no report on its drug targets is present, therefore putative therapeutic targets were identified from its genomic sequence data. Traditional Chinese (n > 36,000) and Indian medicinal compounds (n > 2000) were then screened against its pyridoxine 5'-phosphate synthase, a vital therapeutic target. Prioritized TCM compounds included ZINC02525131, ZINC33833737 and ZINC85486932, and Cadiyenol, 9,11,13-Octadecatrienoic acid and 6-Gingerol from Indian medicinal library. Molecular dynamics simulation of top compounds revealed ZINC02525131 as having best stability for 100 ns, compared to Cadiyenol. ADMET profiling was then done, along with physiologically based pharmacokinetic simulation of these compounds in a population of 200 individuals, for 12 h to see fate of the ingested compound. Additionally, the impact of these compounds in a population with cirrhosis and renal impairment was also simulated. We imply in light of all the studied parameters of safety and bioavailability, etc., that 6-Gingerol from Zingiber officinalis rhizome must be proceeded further for in vitro and in vivo testing for inhibition of K. negevensis.

Diversification of (E,E)-1,6-Dioxo-2,4-Dienes for the Synthesis of (+)-Aspicillin, Isolaurepan, and β-Parinaric Acid

A divergent formal synthesis of polyhydroxylated macrocyclic lactone (+)-aspicillin and polyene bioactive natural product β-parinaric acid and the total synthesis of non-terpenoid metabolite isolaurepan have been achieved using a ruthenium-catalyzed stereo- and chemoselective oxidative coupling reaction of easily accessible vinyl ketones and acrylates. The crucial transformation involves the efficient synthesis and functionalization of stereodefined (E,E)-1,6-dioxo-2,4-dienes using simple reaction protocols, which enabled straightforward access to a diverse range of bioactive natural products.

Ruthenium Catalyzed Stereo- and Chemoselective Oxidative Coupling of Vinyl Ketones: An Efficient Access to (E,E)-1,6-dioxo-2,4-dienes

A Ru-catalyzed direct oxidative coupling reaction of vinyl ketones was developed. It offers a straightforward and atom-economical protocol for synthesis of functionalized (E,E)-1,6-dioxo-2,4-diene derivatives in moderate to good yields with...

New Octadecanoid Enantiomers from the Whole Plants of Plantago depressa

In this study, 19 octadecanoid derivatives-four pairs of enantiomers (1⁻8), two racemic/scalemic mixtures (9⁻10), and nine biosynthetically related analogues-were obtained from the ethanolic extract of a Chinese medicinal plant, Plantago depressa Willd. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, with the absolute configurations of the new compounds assigned by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT)-based electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Six of them (1, 3⁻6, and 9) were reported for the first time, while 2, 7, and 8 have been previously described as derivatives and are currently obtained as natural products. Our bioassays have established that selective compounds show in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

Isolation of Lignan and Fatty Acid Derivatives from the Grains of Echinochloa utilis and Their Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Nitric Oxide Production in RAW 264.7 Cells

Two new fatty acid derivatives, echinochlorins A (8) and B (9) and a racemic lignan, (±)-anti-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-{4-[(E)-3-acetoxypropen-1-yl]-2-methoxyphenoxy}propan-1,3-diol 3-acetate (1), were isolated from Echinochloa utilis grains, along with six known lignans (2-7) and two fatty acid derivatives (10, 11). Their structures were established by spectroscopic data analyses (IR, UV, HR-FABMS, GC-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR). The configuration of 1 was determined by Mosher's method. Compound 5 displayed potential inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with an IC50 value of 4.8 ± 0.5 μM. These isolated compounds in crude EtOH extract were also quantitated by HPLC.

A-WINGS: an integrated genome database for Pleurocybella porrigens (Angel's wing oyster mushroom, Sugihiratake)

BACKGROUND

The angel's wing oyster mushroom (Pleurocybella porrigens, Sugihiratake) is a well-known delicacy. However, its potential risk in acute encephalopathy was recently revealed by a food poisoning incident. To disclose the genes underlying the accident and provide mechanistic insight, we seek to develop an information infrastructure containing omics data. In our previous work, we sequenced the genome and transcriptome using next-generation sequencing techniques. The next step in achieving our goal is to develop a web database to facilitate the efficient mining of large-scale omics data and identification of genes specifically expressed in the mushroom.

FINDINGS

This paper introduces a web database A-WINGS (http://bioinf.mind.meiji.ac.jp/a-wings/) that provides integrated genomic and transcriptomic information for the angel's wing oyster mushroom. The database contains structure and functional annotations of transcripts and gene expressions. Functional annotations contain information on homologous sequences from NCBI nr and UniProt, Gene Ontology, and KEGG Orthology. Digital gene expression profiles were derived from RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis in the fruiting bodies and mycelia. The omics information stored in the database is freely accessible through interactive and graphical interfaces by search functions that include 'GO TREE VIEW' browsing, keyword searches, and BLAST searches.

CONCLUSIONS

The A-WINGS database will accelerate omics studies on specific aspects of the angel's wing oyster mushroom and the family Tricholomataceae.

Three new compounds from the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica

Three new compounds, 3,6-dihydroxy-4,5-dimethoxy-1,8-naphalic anhydride (1), 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-1,8-naphalic anhydride (2), and methyl (7E,9E)-6,11-dioxononadeca-7,9-dienoate (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-TOF-MS, and by comparison with the literature data.

Eleostearic acid induces RIP1-mediated atypical apoptosis in a kinase-independent manner via ERK phosphorylation, ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction

RIP1 is a serine/threonine kinase, which is involved in apoptosis and necroptosis. In apoptosis, caspase-8 and FADD have an important role. On the other hand, RIP3 is a key molecule in necroptosis. Recently, we reported that eleostearic acid (ESA) elicits caspase-3- and PARP-1-independent cell death, although ESA-treated cells mediate typical apoptotic morphology such as chromatin condensation, plasma membrane blebbing and apoptotic body formation. The activation of caspases, Bax and PARP-1, the cleavage of AIF and the phosphorylation of histone H2AX, all of which are characteristics of typical apoptosis, do not occur in ESA-treated cells. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To clarify the signaling pathways in ESA-mediated apoptosis, we investigated the functions of RIP1, MEK, ERK, as well as AIF. Using an extensive study based on molecular biology, we identified the alternative role of RIP1 in ESA-mediated apoptosis. ESA mediates RIP1-dependent apoptosis in a kinase independent manner. ESA activates serine/threonine phosphatases such as calcineurin, which induces RIP1 dephosphorylation, thereby ERK pathway is activated. Consequently, localization of AIF and ERK in the nucleus, ROS generation and ATP reduction in mitochondria are induced to disrupt mitochondrial cristae, which leads to cell death. Necrostatin (Nec)-1 blocked MEK/ERK phosphorylation and ESA-mediated apoptosis. Nec-1 inactive form (Nec1i) also impaired ESA-mediated apoptosis. Nec1 blocked the interaction of MEK with ERK upon ESA stimulation. Together, these findings provide a new finding that ERK and kinase-independent RIP1 proteins are implicated in atypical ESA-mediated apoptosis.

Hirsutane-type sesquiterpenes with uncommon modifications from three basidiomycetes

From three basidiomycetes, Xeromphalina sp., Stereum sp., and Pleurocybella porrigens, six triquinane sesquiterpenes with unprecendented modifications and a rearranged sesquiterpene related to coriolin C have been isolated. Their isolation, structure elucidation, and biological evaluation are described.

Cytotoxic fatty acid from Pleurocybella porrigens

The new conjugated ketonic fatty acid, porrigenic acid (1), was isolated as a cytotoxic constituent of Pleurocybella porrigens. The structure of 1 was elucidated using spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR and MS. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was determined by application of the exciton chirality method. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity against myeloma THP-1 cells, but did not show any significant toxicity against B16F1 melanoma. This is the first report of the isolation and structural elucidation of the new cytotoxic constituent porrigenic acid (1) from the edible mushroom P. porrigens.