MDN-0170, a New Napyradiomycin from Streptomyces sp. Strain CA-271078

A new napyradiomycin, MDN-0170 (1), was isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived actinomycete strain CA-271078, together with three known related compounds identified as 4-dehydro-4a-dechloronapyradiomycin A1 (2), napyradiomycin A1 (3) and 3-chloro-6,8-dihydroxy-8-α-lapachone (4). The structure of the new compound was determined using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and electrospray-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS). The relative configuration of compound 1, which contains two independent stereoclusters, has been established by molecular modelling in combination with nOe and coupling constant analyses. Biosynthetic arguments also allowed us to propose its absolute stereochemistry. The antimicrobial properties of the compounds isolated were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. The potent bioactivity previously reported for compounds 2 and 3 against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus has been extended to methicillin-resistant strains in this report.     

Polyketides from a Marine-Derived Fungus Xylariaceae sp.

Eighteen polyketides (1–18) including six citrinin derivatives, two phenol derivatives, one cyclopentenone, two naphthol derivatives, and seven tetralone derivatives were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived fungal strain Xylariaceae sp. SCSGAF0086. Five of these compounds (1, 2, 8, 9, and 10) were new, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 4, 6, 7, and 17 showed enzyme-inhibitory activities towards several tested enzymes, and 6 and 7 showed strong antifouling activity against Bugula neritina larvae settlement. This is the first time that the antifouling and enzyme-inhibitory activities of these compounds has been reported.     

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic New Napyradiomycins from the Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 10428

Three new napyradiomycins (1–3) were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived actinomycete strain SCSIO 10428, together with six known related analogues napyradiomycin A1 (4), 18-oxonapyradiomycin A1 (5), napyradiomycin B1 (6), napyradiomycin B3 (7), naphthomevalin (8), and napyradiomycin SR (9). The strain SCSIO 10428 was identified as a Streptomyces species by the sequence analysis of its 16S rRNA gene. The structures of new compounds 1–3, designated 4-dehydro-4a-dechloronapyradiomycin A1 (1), 3-dechloro-3-bromonapyradiomycin A1 (2), and 3-chloro-6,8-dihydroxy-8-α-lapachone (3), respectively, were elucidated by comparing their 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data with known congeners. None of the napyradiomycins 1–9 showed antioxidative activities. Napyradiomycins 1–8 displayed antibacterial activities against three Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus and Bacillus strains with MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 32 μg mL⁻¹, with the exception that compound 3 had a MIC value of above 128 μg mL⁻¹ against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213. Napyradiomycins 2, 4, 6, and 7 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against four human cancer cell lines SF-268, MCF-7, NCI-H460, and HepG-2 with IC₅₀ values below 20 μM, while the IC₅₀ values for other five napyradiomycins 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9 were above 20 μM.     

Four New Antibacterial Xanthones from the Marine-Derived Actinomycetes Streptomyces caelestis

Four new polycyclic antibiotics, citreamicin θ A (1), citreamicin θ B (2), citreaglycon A (3), and dehydrocitreaglycon A (4), were isolated from marine-derived Streptomyces caelestis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectra. All four compounds displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtillis. Citreamicin θ A (1), citreamicin θ B (2) and citreaglycon A (3) also exhibited low MIC values of 0.25, 0.25, and 8.0 μg/mL, respectively, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300.     

Two antimycin A analogues from marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces lusitanus

Two new antimycin A analogues, antimycin B1 and B2 (1-2), were isolated from a spent broth of a marine-derived bacterium, Streptomyces lusitanus. The structures of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. The isolated compounds were tested for their anti-bacterial potency. Compound 1 was found to be inactive against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphyloccocus aureus, and Loktanella hongkongensis. Compound 2 showed antibacterial activities against S. aureus and L. hongkongensis with MIC values of 32.0 and 8.0 μg/mL, respectively.     

Antibacterial bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids from the sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus sp

Four new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, aspergiterpenoid A (1), (-)-sydonol (2), (-)-sydonic acid (3), and (-)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(2',6',6'-trimethyltetrahydro-2H- pyran-2-yl)phenol (4) together with one known fungal metabolite (5) were isolated from the fermentation broth of a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp., which was isolated from the sponge Xestospongia testudinaria collected from the South China Sea. Four of them (1-4) are optically active compounds. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by using NMR spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometric analysis, and by comparing their optical rotations with those related known analogues. Compounds 1-5 showed selective antibacterial activity against eight bacterial strains with the MIC (minimum inhibiting concentrations) values between 1.25 and 20.0 μM. The cytotoxic, antifouling, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of these compounds were also examined.     

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Tanzawaic Acid Derivatives from a Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium steckii 108YD142

Chemical investigation of a marine-derived fungus, Penicillium steckii 108YD142, resulted in the discovery of a new tanzawaic acid derivative, tanzawaic acid Q (1), together with four known analogues, tanzawaic acids A (2), C (3), D (4), and K (5). The structures of tanzawaic acid derivatives 1–5 were determined by the detailed analysis of 1D, 2D NMR and LC-MS data, along with chemical methods and literature data analysis. These compounds significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and the new tanzawaic acid Q (1) inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins and mRNA expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Additionally, compound 1 reduced the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrated that the new tanzawaic acid derivative inhibits LPS-induced inflammation. This is the first report on the anti-inflammatory activity of tanzawaic acid Q (1).     

Studies on the synthesis of derivatives of marine-derived bostrycin and their structure-activity relationship against tumor cells

A series of new derivatives (5-29) of marine-derived bostrycin (1) were synthesized. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of all compounds were evaluated against MCF-7, MDA-MB-435, A549, HepG2, HCT-116 and MCF-10A cells using the MTT method. The compounds 7, 8, 22, 23, 25, 28 and 29 of the total showed comparable activity to epirubicin, the positive control, against the tested cancer cell lines. However, these compounds also exhibited cytotoxicity towards MCF-10A cells. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) of bostrycin derivatives was also discussed based on the obtained experimental data.     

Total Synthesis of Fellutamide B and Deoxy-Fellutamides B,C, and D

The total syntheses of the marine-derived lipopeptide natural product fellutamide B and deoxy-fellutamides B, C, and D are reported. These compounds were accessed through a novel solid-phase synthetic strategy using Weinreb amide-derived resin. As part of the synthesis, a new enantioselective route to (3R)-hydroxy lauric acid was developed utilizing a Brown allylation reaction followed by an oxidative cleavage-oxidation sequence as the key steps. The activity of these natural products, and natural product analogues was also assessed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.     

Marinopyrrole Derivatives as Potential Antibiotic Agents against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (II)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to be a major problem, causing severe and intractable infections worldwide. MRSA is resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics, and alternative treatments are limited. A very limited number of new antibiotics have been discovered over the last half-century, novel agents for the treatment of MRSA infections are urgently needed. Marinopyrrole A was reported to show antibiotic activity against MRSA in 2008. After we reported the first total synthesis of (±)-marinopyrrole A, we designed and synthesized a series of marinopyrrole derivatives. Our structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of these novel derivatives against a panel of Gram-positive pathogens in antibacterial assays have revealed that a para-trifluoromethyl analog (33) of marinopyrrole A is ≥63-, 8-, and 4-fold more potent than vancomycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and MRSA, respectively. The results provide valuable information in the search for new-generation antibiotics.     

Purpurogemutantin and purpurogemutantidin, new drimenyl cyclohexenone derivatives produced by a mutant obtained by diethyl sulfate mutagenesis of a marine-derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59

Two new drimenyl cyclohexenone derivatives, named purpurogemutantin (1) and purpurogemutantidin (2), and the known macrophorin A (3) were isolated from a bioactive mutant BD-1-6 obtained by random diethyl sulfate (DES) mutagenesis of a marine-derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59. Structures and absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis. Possible biosynthetic pathways for 1-3 were also proposed and discussed. Compounds 1 and 2 significantly inhibited human cancer K562, HL-60, HeLa, BGC-823 and MCF-7 cells, and compound 3 also inhibited the K562 and HL-60 cells. Both bioassay and chemical analysis (HPLC, LC-ESIMS) demonstrated that the parent strain G59 did not produce 1-3, and that DES-induced mutation(s) in the mutant BD-1-6 activated some silent biosynthetic pathways in the parent strain G59, including one set for 1-3 production.     

Quinazolin-4-one coupled with pyrrolidin-2-iminium alkaloids from marine-derived fungus Penicillium aurantiogriseum

Three new alkaloids, including auranomides A and B (1 and 2), a new scaffold containing quinazolin-4-one substituted with a pyrrolidin-2-iminium moiety, and auranomide C (3), as well as two known metabolites auranthine (4) and aurantiomides C (5) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium aurantiogriseum. The chemical structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including IR, HRESIMS and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-3 were suggested from the perspective of a plausible biosynthesis pathway. Compounds 1-3 were subjected to antitumor and antimicrobial screening models. Auranomides A-C exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against human tumor cells. Auranomides B was the most potent among them with an IC(50) value of 0.097 μmol/mL against HEPG2 cells.     

Effects of high salt stress on secondary metabolite production in the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans

To obtain structurally novel and bioactive natural compounds from marine-derived microorganisms, the effect of high salt stress on secondary metabolite production in the marine-derived fungal strain, Spicaria elegans KLA-03, was investigated. The organism, which was isolated from marine sediment, produced different secondary metabolites when cultured in 3% and 10% saline conditions. Four characteristic metabolites, only produced in the 10% salinity culture, were isolated, and their structures were identified as (2E,2'Z)-3,3'-(6,6'-dihydroxybiphenyl-3,3'-diyl)diacrylic acid (1), aspulvinone E (2), aspochalasin E (3) and trichodermamide B (6), according to their 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compound 1 is a new compound. High salt stress may therefore be a promising means to induce the production of new and chlorinated compounds in halotolerant fungi. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.038 and 0.767 mM, respectively.     

Two New Lyngbyatoxin Derivatives from the Cyanobacterium,Moorea producens

The toxin-producing cyanobacterium, Moorea producens, is a known causative organism of food poisoning and seaweed dermatitis (also known as “swimmer’s itch”). Two new toxic compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated from an ethyl acetate extract of M. producens collected from Hawaii. Analyses of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopies, as well as optical rotations and CD spectra indicated two new lyngbyatoxin derivatives, 2-oxo-3(R)-hydroxy-lyngbyatoxin A (1) and 2-oxo-3(R)-hydroxy-13-N-desmethyl-lyngbyatoxin A (2). The cytotoxicity and lethal activities of 1 and 2 were approximately 10- to 150-times less potent than lyngbyatoxin A. Additionally, the binding activities of 1 and 2 possessed 10,000-times lower affinity for the protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ)-C1B peptide when compared to lyngbyatoxin A. These findings suggest that these new lyngbyatoxin derivatives may mediate their acute toxicities through a non-PKC activation pathway.     

Meroterpenes from Endophytic Fungus A1 of Mangrove Plant Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea

Four new meroterpenes, guignardones F–I (1–4), together with two known compounds guignardones A (5) and B (6) were isolated from the endophytic fungus A1 of the mangrove plant Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. A possible biogenetic pathway of compounds 1–6 was also proposed. All compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus.     

Novel Adociaquinone Derivatives from the Indonesian Sponge Xestospongia sp.

Seven new adociaquinone derivatives, xestoadociaquinones A (1a), B (1b), 14-carboxy-xestoquinol sulfate (2) and xestoadociaminals A–D (3a, 3c, 4a, 4c), together with seven known compounds (5–11) were isolated from an Indonesian marine sponge Xestospongia sp. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometric data. All the compounds were evaluated for their potential inhibitory activity against eight different protein kinases involved in cell proliferation, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders as well as for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities.     

Violacein-Producing Collimonas sp. from the Sea Surface Microlayer of Costal Waters in Tr?ndelag,Norway

A new strain belonging to the genus Collimonas was isolated from the sea surface microlayer off the coast of Trøndelag, Norway. The bacterium, designated Collimonas CT, produced an antibacterial compound active against Micrococcus luteus. Subsequent studies using LC-MS identified this antibacterial compound as violacein, known to be produced by several marine-derived bacteria. Fragments of the violacein biosynthesis genes vioA and vioB were amplified by PCR from the Collimonas CT genome and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated close relatedness of the Collimonas CT violacein biosynthetic gene cluster to those in Janthinobacterium lividum and Duganella sp., suggesting relatively recent horizontal gene transfer. Considering diverse biological activities of violacein, Collimonas CT shall be further studied as a potential producer of this compound.     

Nature’s Lab for Derivatization: New and Revised Structures of a Variety of Streptophenazines Produced by a Sponge-Derived Streptomyces Strain

Eight streptophenazines (A–H) have been identified so far as products of Streptomyces strain HB202, which was isolated from the sponge Halichondria panicea from the Baltic Sea. The variation of bioactivities based on small structural changes initiated further studies on new derivatives. Three new streptophenazines (I–K) were identified after fermentation in the present study. In addition, revised molecular structures of streptophenazines C, D, F and H are proposed. Streptophenazines G and K exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against the facultative pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis and against Bacillus subtilis. All tested compounds (streptophenazines G, I–K) also showed moderate activities against PDE 4B.     

Isolation,Structure Elucidation and Total Synthesis of Lajollamide A from the Marine Fungus Asteromyces cruciatus

The marine-derived filamentous fungus Asteromyces cruciatus 763, obtained off the coast of La Jolla, San Diego, USA, yielded the new pentapeptide lajollamide A (1), along with the known compounds regiolone (2), hyalodendrin (3), gliovictin (4), ¹N-norgliovicitin (5), and bis-N-norgliovictin (6). The planar structure of lajollamide A (1) was determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of lajollamide A (1) was unambiguously solved by total synthesis which provided three additional diastereomers of 1 and also revealed that an unexpected acid-mediated partial racemization (2:1) of the L-leucine and L-N-Me-leucine residues occurred during the chemical degradation process. The biological activities of the isolated metabolites, in particular their antimicrobial properties, were investigated in a series of assay systems.     

Rare Chromones from a Fungal Mutant of the Marine-Derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59

Three new and rare chromones, named epiremisporine B (2), epiremisporine B1 (3) and isoconiochaetone C (4), along with three known remisporine B (1), coniochaetone A (5) and methyl 8-hydroxy-6-methyl-9-oxo-9H-xanthene-1-carboxylate (6) were isolated from a mutant from the diethyl sulfate (DES) mutagenesis of a marine-derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59. The structures of 2–4 including the absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially by NMR analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments in conjunction with calculations. The absolute configuration of the known remisporine B (1) was determined for the first time. Compounds 2 and 3 have a rare feature that has only been reported in one example so far. The compounds 1–6 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines. The present work explored the great potential of our previous DES mutagenesis strategy for activating silent fungal pathways, which has accelerated the discovery of new bioactive compounds.