Cytoglobosins A-G, Cytochalasans from a Marine-Derived Endophytic Fungus, Chaetomium globosum QEN-14

Financial support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2010CB833802 and 2007AA09Z446) and from the National Science Foundation of China (30910103914) is gratefully acknowledged.

T-Muurolol Sesquiterpenes from the Marine Streptomyces sp M491 and Revision of the Configuration of Previously Reported Amorphanes

Two new sesquiterpenes, 15-hydroxy-T-muurolol (3d) and 11,15-dihydroxy-T-muurolol (3e), along with the plant cadinenes T-muurolol (3f) and 3 alpha-hydroxy-T-muurolol (3g), were isolated from the marine-derived Streptomyces sp. M491. Their absolute configuration was established via NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography of 3-oxo-T-muurolol (3a), which was reisolated from this strain. In addition, the absolute configuration of further sesquiterpenes previously reported from this strain was revised. These products were tested for their cytotoxicity against 37 human tumor cell lines using the MTT method. Only 3d was cytotoxic against a range of human tumor cell lines with a mean IC50 of 6.7 mu g/mL.

Identification, Characterization, and Molecular Application of a Virulence-Associated Autotransporter from a Pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens Strain

A gene, pfa1, encoding an autotransporter was cloned from a pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens strain, TSS, isolated from diseased fish. The expression of pfa1 is enhanced during infection and is regulated by growth phase and growth conditions. Mutation of pfa1 significantly attenuates the overall bacterial virulence of TSS and impairs the abilities of TSS in biofilm production, interaction with host cells, modulation of host immune responses, and dissemination in host blood. The putative protein encoded by pfa1 is 1,242 amino acids in length and characterized by the presence of three functional domains that are typical for autotransporters. The passenger domain of PfaI contains a putative serine protease (Pap) that exhibits apparent proteolytic activity when expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli as a recombinant protein. Consistent with the important role played by PfaI in bacterial virulence, purified recombinant Pap has a profound cytotoxic effect on cultured fish cells. Enzymatic analysis showed that recombinant Pap is relatively heat stable and has an optimal temperature and pH of 50 degrees C and pH 8.0. The domains of PfaI that are essential to autotransporting activity were localized, and on the basis of this, a PfaI-based autodisplay system (named AT1) was engineered to facilitate the insertion and transport of heterologous proteins. When expressed in E. coli, AT1 was able to deliver an integrated Edwardsiella tarda immunogen (Et18) onto the surface of bacterial cells. Compared to purified recombinant Et18, Et18 displayed by E. coli via AT1 induced significantly enhanced immunoprotection.

Laurendecumallenes A-B and laurendecumenynes A-B, halogenated nonterpenoid C-15-Acetogenins from the marine red alga Laurencia decumbens

Four new halogenated nonterpenoid C-15-acetogenins, 4:7,6:13-bisepoxy-9,10-diol-1,12-dibromopentadeca-1,2-diene (1, laurendecumallene A), 4:7,6:12-bisepoxy-9,10-diol-1,13-dibromopentadeca-1,2-diene (2, laurendecumallene 13), (3Z)-6:10,7:13-bisepoxy-12-bromo-9-hydroperoxylpentadeca-3-en-1-yne (3, laurendecumenyne A), and (3Z)-6:10,9:13-bisepoxy-12-bromo-7-chloropentadeca-3-en-1-yne (4, laurendecumenyne 13), together with one known halogenated C-15-acetogenin elatenyne (5) were isolated and identified from the organic extract of the marine red alga Laurencia decumbens. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were established by means of spectroscopic analysis including UV, IR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and ID and 2D NMR techniques. All these metabolites were submitted for the cytotoxic assay against tumor cell line A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), but all of them were found inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL).

Chaetopyranin, a benzaldehyde derivative, and other related metabolites from Chaetomium globosum, an endophytic fungus derived from the marine red alga Polysiphonia urceolata

Cultivation of the endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum, which was isolated from the inner tissue of the marine red alga Polysiphonia urceolata, resulted in the isolation of chaetopyranin (1), a new benzaldehyde secondary metabolite. Ten known compounds were also isolated, including two benzaldehyde congeners, 2-(2 ',3-epoxy-1 ',3 '-heptadienyl)-6-hydroxy- 5-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) benzaldehyde (2) and isotetrahydroauroglaucin (3), two anthraquinone derivatives, erythroglaucin (4) and parietin (5), five asperentin derivatives including asperentin ( 6, also known as cladosporin), 5 '-hydroxy-asperentin-8-methylether (7), asperentin-8-methyl ether (8), 4 '-hydroxyasperentin (9), and 5 '-hydroxyasperentin (10), and the prenylated diketopiperazine congener neoechinulin A (11). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data analysis (H-1, C-13, H-1-H-1 COSY, HMQC, and HMBC NMR, as well as low- and high-resolution mass experiments). To our knowledge, compound 1 represents the first example of a 2H-benzopyran derivative of marine algal-derived fungi as well as of the fungal genus Chaetomium. Each isolate was tested for its DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging property. Compounds 1-4 were found to have moderate activity. Chaetopyranin (1) also exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activity toward several tumor cell lines.

Chemical constituents of marine medicinal mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris

Twenty-four compounds including eight steroids (1-8), nine triterpenoids (9-16, 24), three flavonoids (20-22), and four benzenecarboxylic derivatives (17-19, 23) were isolated and identified from stems and twigs of medicinal mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data. Among these metabolites, compounds 1, 4-20 and 22-24 were isolated and identified for the first time from S. caseolaris. In the in vitro cytotoxic assay against SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells, compound 21 (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) exhibited significant activity with IC50 2.8 mu g/mL, while oleanolic acid (14), 3,3'-di-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (18), and 3,3',4-O-tri-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (19) showed weak activity. None of these compounds displayed significant antibacterial activites.

Hymeniacidon perleve associated bioactive bacterium Pseudomonas sp NJ6-3-1

Among marine bacteria isolated from the cytotoxic sponge Hymeniacidon perleve, one strain NJ6-3-1 classified as Pseudomonas sp. showed both cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Fatty acid analysis indicated that the bacterial strain consists mainly of C16:1, C16:0, C18:1, C18:0, C15:0, C14:0. One unusual 9,10-cyclopropane-C17:0 fatty acid and C26:0 also constitute major components, as well as the existence of squalene, the precursor of triterpenoids. The major metabolites in the culture broth were identified as alkaloids, including diketopiperazines and indole compounds, namely 3,6-diisopropylpiperazine-2,5-dione, 3-benzyl-3-isopropylpiperazine-2,5-dione, 3,6-bis-(2-methylpropyl)-piperazine-2,5-dione, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester, indole-3-ethanol, and quinazoline-2,4-dione.

A novel tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member (CsTL) from Ciona savignyi: Molecular identification and expression analysis

A novel invertebrate TNF ligand was identified and characterized in Ciona savignyi. The CsTL cDNA consisted of 995 nucleotides and encoded 281 amino acids. A conserved TNF family signature and several motifs of TNF ligand superfamily were identified in deduced amino acid sequence of CsTL. Phylogenetic analysis grouped CsTL, CiTNF (predicted TNF ligand superfamily homolog in Ciona intestinalis) and urchin TL1A with their own cluster apart from mammalian TNF alpha, LTA, TNFSF15 and fish TNFa proteins. Expression studies demonstrated that CsTL mRNA is present in all tested tissues from unchallenged ascidians and its expression was significantly upregulated in hemocytes following LIPS injection. The recombinant CsTL protein expressed using a baculovirus expression system showed potential cytotoxic activity in L929 cells. Present results indicated that TNF ligand superfamity molecules are present in marine invertebrates. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification and molecular analysis of a novel C-type lectin from Scophthalmus maximus

C-type lectins are calcium-dependent carbohydrate-binding proteins that play Important roles in innate immunity In this study, a C-type lectin homologue (SmLec1) was identified from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and analyzed at expression and functional levels. The open reading frame of SmLec1 is 504 bp, with a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 101 bp and a 3'-UTR of 164 bp The deduced amino acid sequence of SmLec1 shares 34%-38% overall identities with the C-type lectins of several fish species In silico analysis identified in SmLec1 conserved C-type lectin features, including a carbohydrate-recognition domain, four disulfide bond-forming cysteine residues, and the mannose-type carbohydrate-binding motif In addition, SmLec1 possesses a putative signal peptide sequence and is predicted to be localized in the extracellular. Expression of SmLec1 was highest in liver and responded positively to experimental challenges with fish pathogens Recombinant SmLec1 (rSmLec1) purified from yeast was able to agglutinate the Gram-negative fish pathogen Listonella anguillarum but not the Gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus uncle The agglutinating ability of rSmLec1 was abolished in the presence of mannose and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and by elevated temperature (65 degrees C) Further analysis showed that rSmLec1 could stimulate kidney lymphocyte proliferation and enhance the killing of bacterial pathogen by macrophages Taken together, these results suggest that SmLec1 is a unique mannose-binding C-type lectin that possesses apparent immunomodulating property and is likely to be involved in host defense against bacterial infection (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Highly Oxygenated Triterpenoids from the Marine Red Alga Laurencia mariannensis (Rhodomelaceae)

Two new and one known squalenoid-derived triterpenoids. namely, laurenmariannol (1) and (21 alpha)-21-hydroxythyrsiferol (2). and the known thyrsiferol (3) were isolated and identified from the marine red alga Laurencia mariannensis, which was collected off the coast of Hainan and Weizhou Islands of China. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectroscopic analyses, as well as by comparison with literature data. Compounds I and 2 displayed significant cytotoxic activity against P-388 tumor cells with IC50 values of 0.6 and 6.6 mu g/ml, respectively.

Dioxopiperazine Alkaloids Produced by the Marine Mangrove Derived Endophytic Fungus Eurotium rubrum

Cultivation of the fungal strain Eurotium rubrum, an endophytic fungus that was isolated from the inner tissue of stems of the mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus, resulted in the isolation of two new dioxopiperazine derivatives, namely, dehydrovariecolorin L (1) and dehydroechinulin (2), together with eight known dioxopiperazine compounds including variecolorin L (3), echinulin (4), isoechinulin A (5), dihydroxyisoechinulin A (6), preechinulin (7), neoechinulin A (8), neoechinulin E (9), and cryptoechinuline D (10). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with literature. Compounds 1, 2, 9, and 10 were investigated for their a,a-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity. In addition, the new compounds, 1 and 2, were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against the P-388, HL-60, and A549 cell lines.

两株海藻内生真菌次生代谢产物及其生物活性研究

海洋微生物拥有丰富多样的次生代谢途径，其中海洋生物内生真菌次生代谢产物研究日益受到天然产物化学界的重视。本论文以菌丝体生物量、发酵产物重量、抗菌与细胞毒活性、薄层色谱分析结果以及高效液相色谱分析结果等为评价依据对采自青岛沿海的13株海藻内生真菌在四种液体培养基上的静置发酵产物进行了综合评价，并从中选择了黑曲霉Aspergillus niger EN-13（分离自褐藻囊藻Colpomenia sinuosa）和杂色曲霉A. versicolor EN-7（分离自褐藻鼠尾藻Sargassum thunbergii）两株真菌进行了30升规模发酵（分别采用GPYM培养基和PDB培养）和化学成分的研究，对分离得到的大部分化合物进行了初步的生物活性筛选。 发酵提取物采用常规的硅胶柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析，凝胶Sephadex LH-20柱层析、制备薄层层析、半制备高效液相色谱以及重结晶等分离手段，得到单体化合物。利用各种现代波谱技术(IR、UV、EI-MS、FAB-MS、HR-ESI-MS、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、1H-1H COSY、HSQC、HMBC等)并结合化学方法从两种菌株发酵提取物中鉴定了55个化合物的结构。其中从菌株A. niger EN-13分离鉴定了31个化合物，发现9个新化合物，包括2个鞘酯类化合物（AN-1~2）、3个萘并-γ-吡喃酮类化合物（AN-3~5）、3个苯乙基取代的α-吡喃酮类化合物（AN-17, AN-19~20）和1个甾体Diels-Alder加成产物（AN-21），另有1个新的天然环二肽（AN-27）被分离鉴定；从菌株A. versicolor EN-7分离鉴定了24个化合物，发现2个新化合物，为蒽醌AV-12与AV-17，另外，从前一菌株（A. niger EN-13）中鉴定的2个新鞘酯类化合物（AN-1~2）在A. versicolor EN-7中也被再次分离到。 对大部分单体化合物进行了抗菌活性、DPPH自由基清除活性和细胞毒活性测试。结果显示新化合物AN-1、AN-5和AN-20具有弱或中等强度的抑制白色念珠菌生长的活性，AN-4、AN-5、AN-21显示了弱或中等强度的抑制黑曲霉生长的活性，AV-12、AV-17显示了弱的抑制大肠杆菌生长的活性。在DPPH自由基清除活性筛选中，AN-5显示了中等强度的活性，其EC50为109.3 mM，与阳性对照BHT相近（EC50为81.8 mM）。其它部分已知化合物在抗菌和DPPH自由基清除活性的筛选中也显示了弱或中等强度的活性。在针对人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721和人肺腺癌细胞株A549的体外细胞毒活性筛选中，所测样品均未显示显著活性。

Antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effect of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides and their different derivatives

Antioxidant activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides (OM) and their chemical modification derivatives was investigated employing various established in vitro systems, such as reducing power, iron ion chelation, and total antioxidant activity using beta-carotene-linoleic acid system. The oversulfated (SD), lowly (LAD), and highly acetylated derivatives (HAD) in reducing power assay, the phosphorylated derivative (PD) in metal chelating assay, and oversulfated and phosphorylated derivatives in total antioxidant activity assay exhibited antioxidant activity higher than that of carrageenan oligosaccharides. The results indicated that the chemical modification of carrageenan oligosaccharides can enhance their antioxidant activity in vitro. The protective effects of the carrageenan oligosaccharides and their chemically modified derivatives against H2O2 and UVA (long-wave ultraviolet radiation) induced oxidative damage on rat thymic lymphocyte were investigated by measuring cell viability via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Thymic lymphocyte exposure to H2O2 and UVA, a marked reduction in cell survival was observed, which was significantly prevented by carrageenan oligosaccharides and their derivatives (preincubated for 2 h) at 66.7-2000 mu g/mL. But both the carrageenan oligosaccharides and their different derivatives showed the similar protective effects on intracellular level. Taken together, these results suggest that carrageenan oligosaccharides and their derivatives show relevant antioxidant activity both in vitro and in a cell system. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides

The modulation of carrageenan oligosaccharides from Kappaphycus striatum on the immune system in S 180-bearing mice was investigated. The mice inoculated with S180 cell suspension were treated p.o. with carrageenan oligosaccharides (50, 100 and 200 mu g/g) for 14 days. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on transplantable tumors and macrophage phagocytosis, quantitative hemolysis of sheep red blood cells (QHS),. lymphocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer cells (NK), production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were studied. Carrageenan oligosaccharides could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable sarcoma S180 and increase macrophage phagocytosis, the form of antibody secreted by spleen cells, spleen lymphocyte proliferation, NK cells activity, serumal IL-2 and TNF-alpha level in S 180-bearing mice. Considering all these results, it is suggested that carrageenan oligosaccharides exert their antitumor effect by promoting the immune system. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sesquiterpenes from Laurencia similis

One new sesquiterpene, (4E)-1-bromo-5-[(1'S*, 3'R*)-3'-bromo-2',2'-dimethyl-6'-methylenecyclohexyl]-3-methylpent-4-ene-2,3-diol (1), and fifteen known sesquiterpenes, isopalisol (2), luzonensol (3), palisadin B (4), aplysistatin (5), palisadin A (6), 4-hydroxyl-palisudin C (7), 5-acetoxypalisadin B (8), 10-hydroxyaristolan-9-one (9), aristol-8-en-1-one (10), aristolan-9-en-1-one (11), aristolan-1(10)-en-9-one (12), aristolan-1( 10)-en-9-ol (13), aristolan-1(10), 8-diene (14), aristolan-1,9-diene (15) and aristofone (16), were isolated from a sample of marine red alga Laurencia similis. Their structures were established by detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Compounds 2-9, and 16 were isolated for the first time from this species. All these metabolites were submitted for a cytotoxicity assay against the tumor cell line BEL7402 (human liver adenocarcinoma), but all of them were found inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL).