野桂花的化学成分研究

首次从野桂花（Osmanthus yunnanensis Fr. P. S. Green）地上部分95%乙醇提取物中通过色谱分离得到20个化合物, 其中化合物20为新化合物。基于波谱数据它们被鉴定为(E)-阿魏酸二十烷基酯(1)、β-谷甾醇(2)、羽扇豆醇(3)、齐墩果酸(4)、7-oxo-β-sitosterol(5)、乙酰齐墩果酸(6)、(6′-O-palmitoyl)-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside(7)、rotundioic acid(8)、地榆糖甙Ⅱ(9)、27-O-(E)-对羟基肉桂酰-28-齐墩果酸(10)、27-O-(Z)-对羟基肉桂酰-28-齐墩果酸(11)、hycandinic acid ester(12)、绿原酸丁酯(13)、4,5-二咖啡酰奎尼酸丁酯(14)、4,5-dihydroxyprenyl caffeate(15)、28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl rotundioic acid (16)、4-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada-glycoside C, 17)、 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-5-hydroxy-prenyl caffeate (aohada-glycoside A, 18)、β-胡萝卜甙(19)以及3-[O-β-D-(6-O-咖啡酰吡喃葡萄糖)]-甲基-2-烯-γ-内酯 (20)。化合物13、14、15和17有较强的α-葡萄糖甙酶抑制活性。当浓度为1 mg/ml时，它们对α-葡萄糖甙酶的抑制分别为61.5%、95.5%、72.1%、62.6%，活性高于阿卡波糖。 综述了木犀属植物化学成分及1993年以来苯丙素甙类化合物活性研究进展。 Twenty compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Osmanthus yunnanensis Fr. P. S. Green by chromatography for the first time. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as (E)-ferulic acid eicosyl ester (1), β-sitosterol (2), lupenol (3), oleanolic acid (4), 7-oxo-β-sitosterol (5), acetyloleanolic acid (6), (6′-O-palmitoyl)-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (7), rotundioic acid (8), ziyu glycosideⅡ (9), 3β-hydroxy-27-p-(E)-coumaroyloxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (10), 3β-hydroxy-27-p-(Z)-coumaroyloxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (11), hycandinic acid ester (12), chlorogenic acid butyl ester (13), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid butyl ester (14), 4,5-dihydroxyprenyl caffeate (15), 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl rotundioic acid (16), 4-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada- glycoside C, 17), 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada- glycoside A, 18), β-daucosterol(19) and 3-[O-β-D-(6-O-caffeoylglucopyranosyl)]- methyl-2-en-γ-lactone (20). Compound 20 is a new one. Compounds 13, 14, 15 and 17 inhibit α-glucosidase with corresponding inhibitory rate of 61.5%, 95.5%, 72.1% and 62.6% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, higher than acarbose. The chemical studies on Osmanthus genus and bioactivities of phenylpropanoid glycosides were summarized.

滇金足草、凋缨菊和长喙吴萸的化学成分研究

本论文对滇金足草（Goldfussia yunnanensis）、凋缨菊（Camchaya loloana）和长喙吴萸（Evodia vestia）的化学成分进行了研究，通过色谱分离得到40个化合物。主要基于波谱数据鉴定了它们的结构，其中10个为新化合物。 1．从滇金足草地上枝叶的95%乙醇提取物中共分离鉴定了16个化合物：泽漆内酯A（1）、18-羟基泽漆内酯A（2）、18-氧代泽漆内酯A（3）、18-羟基-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-泽漆内酯A（4）、3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-泽漆内酯A（5）、3-O-β-D-吡喃半乳糖-泽漆内酯A（6）、6-E-肉桂酰哈巴俄苷（7）、E-哈巴俄苷（8）、5，6-异亚丙二氧基哈巴俄苷（9）、β-谷甾醇（10）、β-胡萝卜苷（11）、齐墩果酸（12）、肉桂酸（13）、麦角固醇（14）、硬脂酸（15）和丁二酸（16）。其中2-7为新化合物。5，6-异亚丙二氧基哈巴俄苷（9）以人工产物形式得到。 2．从凋缨菊地上枝叶的95%乙醇提取物中分离并鉴定了13个化合物：凋缨菊内酯A~C (17-19)、1β-乙酰基凋缨菊内酯C(20)、b-谷甾醇（10）、β-胡萝卜苷（11）、羽扇豆醇（21）、桦木醇（22）、桦木酸（23）、芥子醇（24）、紫丁香苷（25）、咖啡酸（26）和熊果酸（27）。其中化合物17-20为桉叶烷内酯类新化合物。化合物17、18、20对细胞株HepG2的GI50依次为7.80、7.08、4.99 µg/mL。 3．从长喙吴萸（E. vestia）地上枝叶的95%乙醇提取物中分离并鉴定了13个化合物：佛手内酯（28）、花椒毒素（29）、异茴芹内酯（30）、七叶内酯（31）、东莨宕素（32）、瑞香素（33）、异紫花前胡内酯(34)、茵芋碱（35）、山刈碱（36）、白鲜碱（37）、黄柏酮（38）、柠檬苦素（39）和对羟基苯甲醛（40）。 4．综述了1990—2007年期间从菊科植物中发现的桉叶烷-12，6内酯的化学结构、生物活性、生物转化及化学合成方面的研究进展。 Phytochemical investigation on Goldfussia yunnanensis, Camchaya loloana, and Evodia vestia, led to the isolation of 40 compounds, 10 of which were new ones. 1. Six new compounds were isolation from 95% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of G. yunnanensis, and identified as 18-hydroxyhelioscopinolide A (2), 18-oxohelioscopinolide A (3), 18-hydroxy-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylhelioscopinolide A (4), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylhelioscopinolide A (5),3-O-β-D-Galactopyranosyl helioscopinolide A (6), 6-O-trans-cinnamoyl E-harpagoside (7). The known compounds isolated were helioscopinolide A (1), E-harpagoside A (8), 5,6-isopropylidene E-harpagoside A (9), β-sitosterol (10), β-daucosterol (11), oleanolic acid (12), cinnamic acid (13), ergosterol (14), stearic acid (15) and succinic acid (16). Compound 9 was an artifact. 2. Four new compounds, loloanolides A – C (17 - 19) and 1β-acetoxy-loloanolide C (20), were isolation from 95% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of C. loloana. The known ones were β-sitosterol (10), β-daucosterol (11), lupeol (21), betulin (22), betulinic acid (23), sinapyl (24), syringin (25), caffeic acid (26) and ursolic acid (27). The GI50 values of compounds 17, 18 and 20 to HepG2 cell line were 7.80, 7.08 and 4.99 µg/mL, respectively. 3. Thirteen were isolated from 95% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of E. vestia for the first time. They were determined to be bergapten (28), xanthotoxin (29), isopimpinellin (30), esculetin (31), scopoletin (32), daphnetin (33), marmesin (34), skimmianine (35), confusameline (36), dictamine (37), obacunone (38), limonin (39) and p-hydroxy phenyl aldehyde (40). 4. The structures, biological activities, biotransformation and chemical syntheses of eudesmane-12, 6-olides from the Asteraceae during 1990-2007 were reviewed.

Progress in the chemistry of spirodilactone and its derivations

Spirodilactones are a series of compounds with the structures of spiro-carbon and lactone which result in the special physical and chemical characters of Spirodilactones, In this paper the advance in the methods of synthesis, derivative reaction, chrial resolution, polymer synthesis of the most representative aspects for spirodi-gamma -butylactone and its derivations , were summarized described.

Polyimides from 3,3 '-dioxo-[1,1 ']-spirodiphthalan-5,5 ',6,6 '-tetracarboxylic dianhydride

A novel dianhydride, 3,3'-dioxo-[1,1']-spirodiphthalan-5,5',6,6'-tetracarboxlic dianhydride, was synthesized and used as a monomer to prepare polyimides with several diamines via a conventional two-stage procedure. The intermediate poly(amic-acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.84-1.71 dL/g and could be thermally converted into lightly yellow, transparent, flexible and tough films. Films cast from chemically imidized polyimides were transparent and colorless. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) were > 400 degrees C, and the 5% weight-loss temperatures were > 420 degrees C in N-2 and in air. The solubilities of these polyimides in various solvents were evaluated. The mechanical properties of some polyimides were also tested. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A New Triterpenoid from Amoora dasyclada

Five compounds were isolated from the EtOH extraction of the stem of Amoora dasyclada (How et T. Chen) C. Y. Wu (Meliaceae). On the basis of spectroscopic methods, their structures were elucidated as 24, 25-epoxy-tirucall-7-ene-3, 23-dione (1), 24, 25, 26, 27-tetranortirucall-7-ene-3-oxo-23(21)-lactone (2), taraxerone (3), taraxerol (4) and b-sitosterol (5). Among them, compound 1 was a new triterpenoid, compounds 3-5 were firstly obtained from this plant; compound 2, an tetranortriterpenoid, was firstly isolated from natural sources, and its NMR data were assigned for the first time. Moreover, the D7-bond and the Me-14 in compound 2 were never changed, which has never been found in other tetranortriterpenoids. And the biosynthetic pathway of tetranortriterpenoid was further discussed.

Docking and molecular dynamics study on the inhibitory activity of coumarins on aldose reductase

In order to explore the inhibitory mechanism of coumarins toward aldose reductase (ALR2), AutoDock and Gromacs software were used for docking and molecular dynamics studies on 14 coumarins (CM) and ALR2 protease. The docking results indicate that residues TYR48, HIS110, and TRP111 construct the active pocket of ALR2 and, besides van der Waals and hydrophobic interaction, CM mainly interact with ALR2 by forming hydrogen bonds to cause inhibitory behavior. Except for CM1, all the other coumarins take the lactone part as acceptor to build up the hydrogen bond network with active-pocket residues. Unlike CM3, which has two comparable binding modes with ALR2, most coumarins only have one dominant orientation in their binding sites. The molecular dynamics calculation, based on the docking results, implies that the orientations of CM in the active pocket show different stabilities. Orientation of CM1 and CM3a take an unstable binding mode with ALR2; their conformations and RMSDs relative to ALR2 change a lot with the dynamic process. While the remaining CM are always hydrogen-bonded with residues TYR48 and HIS110 through the carbonyl O atom of the lactone group during the whole process, they retain the original binding mode and gradually reach dynamic equilibrium.

Docking and molecular dynamics studies toward the binding of new natural phenolic marine inhibitors and aldose reductase

Phenolic marine natural product is a kind of new potential aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs). In order to investigate the binding mode and inhibition mechanism, molecular docking and dynamics studies were performed to explore the interactions of six phenolic inhibitors with human aldose reductase (hALR2). Considering physiological environment, all the neutral and other two ionized states of each phenolic inhibitor were adopted in the simulation. The calculations indicate that all the inhibitors are able to form stable hydrogen bonds with the hALR2 active pocket which is mainly constructed by residues TYR48, HIS110 and TRP111, and they impose the inhibition effect by occupying the active space. In all inhibitors, only La and its two ionized derivatives La_ion1 and La_ion2, in which neither of the ortho-hydrogens of 3-hydroxyl is substituted by Br, bind with hALR2 active residues using the terminal 3-hydroxyl. While, all the other inhibitors, at least one of whose ortho-sites of 3- and 6-hydroxyls are substituted by Br substituent which take much electron-withdrawing effect and steric hindrance, bind with hALR2 through the lactone group. This means that the Br substituent can effectively regulate the binding modes of phenolic inhibitors. Although the lactone bound inhibitors have relatively high RMSD values, our dynamics study shows that both binding modes are of high stability. For each inhibitor molecule, the ionization does not change its original binding mode, but it does gradually increase the binding free energy, which reveals that besides hydrogen bonds, the electrostatic effect is also important to the inhibitor–hALR2 interaction.

Bactérias e as suas redes sociais

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the reactions of α-diazosulfoxides

The research described in this thesis focuses, principally, on synthesis of stable α-diazosulfoxides and investigation of their reactivity under various reaction conditions (transition-metal catalysed, photochemical, thermal and microwave) with a particular emphasis on the reactive intermediates and mechanistic aspects of the reaction pathways involved. In agreement with previous studies carried out on these compounds, the key reaction pathway of α-diazosulfoxides was found to be hetero-Wolff rearrangement to give α-oxosulfine intermediates. However, a competing reaction pathway involving oxygen migration from sulfur to oxygen was also observed. Critically, isomerisation of α-oxosulfine stereoisomers was observed directly by 1H NMR spectroscopy in this work and this observation accounts for the stereochemical outcomes of the various cycloaddition reactions, whether carried out with in situ trapping or with preformed solutions of sulfines. Furthermore, matrix isolation experiments have shown that electrocyclisation of α-oxosulfines to oxathiiranes takes place and this verifies the proposed mechanisms for enol and disulfide formation. The introductory chapter includes a brief literature review of the synthesis and reactivity of α-diazosulfoxides prior to the commencement of research in this field by the Maguire group. The Wolff rearrangement is also discussed and the characteristic reactions of a number of reactive intermediates (sulfines, sulfenes and oxathiiranes) are outlined. The use of microwave-assisted organic synthesis is also examined, specifically, in the context of α-diazocarbonyl compounds as substrates. The second chapter describes the synthesis of stable monocyclic and bicyclic lactone derivatives of α-diazosulfoxides from sulfide precursors according to established experimental procedures. Approaches to precursors of ketone and sulfimide derivatives of α-diazosulfoxides are also described. The third chapter examines the reactivity of α-diazosulfoxides under thermal, microwave, rhodium(II)-catalysed and photochemical conditions. Comparison of the results obtained under thermal and microwave conditions indicates that there was no evidence for any effect, other than thermal, induced by microwave irradiation. The results of catalyst studies involving several rhodium(II) carboxylate and rhodium(II) carboxamidate catalysts are outlined. Under photochemical conditions, sulfur extrusion is a significant reaction pathway while under thermal or transition metal catalysed conditions, oxygen extrusion is observed. One of the most important observations in this work was the direct spectroscopic observation (by 1H NMR) of interconversion of the E and Z-oxosulfines. Trapping of the α-oxosulfine intermediates as cycloadducts by reaction with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene proved useful both synthetically and mechanistically. As the stereochemistry of the α-oxosulfine is retained in the cycloadducts, this provided an ideal method for characterisation of this key feature. In the case of one α-oxosulfine, a novel [2+2] cycloaddition was observed. Preliminary experiments to investigate the reactivity of an α-diazosulfone under rhodium(II) catalysis and microwave irradiation are also described. The fourth chapter describes matrix isolation experiments which were carried out in Rühr Universität, Bochum in collaboration with Prof. Wolfram Sander. These experiments provide direct spectroscopic evidence of an α-oxosulfine intermediate formed by hetero-Wolff rearrangement of an α-diazosulfoxide and subsequent cyclisation of the sulfine to an oxathiirane was also observed. Furthermore, it was possible to identify which stereoisomer of the α-oxosulfine was present in the matrix. A preliminary laser flash photolysis experiment is also discussed. The experimental details, including all spectral and analytical data, are reported at the end of each chapter. The structural interpretation of 1H NMR spectra of the cycloadducts, described in Chapter 3, is discussed in Appendix I.

Synthesis and reactivity of α-diazo-β-keto sulfoxides: scope and synthetic potential

The research described in this thesis focuses on the design and synthesis of stable α-diazosulfoxides and investigation of their reactivity under a variety of conditions (transition-metal catalysis, thermal, photochemical and microwave) with a particular emphasis on the synthesis of novel heterocyclic compounds with potential biological activity. The exclusive reaction pathway for these α-diazosulfoxides was found to be hetero-Wolff rearrangement to give α-oxosulfine intermediates. In the first chapter, a literature review of sulfines is presented, including a discussion of naturally occurring sulfines, and an overview of the synthesis and reactivity of sulfines. The potential of sulfines in organic synthesis and recent developments in particular are highlighted. The second chapter discusses the synthesis and reactivity of α-diazosulfoxides, building on earlier results in this research group. The synthesis of lactone-based α-diazosulfoxides and, for the first time, ketone-based benzofused and monocyclic α-diazosulfoxides is described. The reactivity of these α-diazosulfoxides is then explored under a variety of conditions, such as transition-metal catalysis, photochemical and microwave, generating labile α-oxosulfine intermediates, which are trapped using amines and dienes, in addition to the spontaneous reaction pathways which occur with α-oxosulfines in the absence of a trap. A new reaction pathway was explored with the lactone based α-oxosulfines, involving reaction with amines to generate novel 3-aminofuran-2(5H)-ones via carbophilic attack, in very good yields. The reactivity of ketone-based α-diazosulfoxides was explored for the first time, and once again, pseudo-Wolff rearrangement to the α-oxosulfines was the exclusive reaction pathway observed. The intermediacy of the α-oxosulfines was confirmed by trapping as cycloadducts, with the stereochemical features dependant on the reaction conditions. In the absence of a diene trap, a number of reaction fates from the α-oxosulfines were observed, including complete sulfinyl extrusion to give indanones, sulfur extrusion to give indanediones, and, to a lesser extent, dimerisation. The indanediones were characterised by trapping as quinoxalines, to enable full characterisation. One of the overriding outcomes of this thesis was the provision of new insights into the behaviour of α-oxosulfines with different transition metal catalysts, and under thermal, microwave and photolysis conditions. A series of 3-aminofuran-2(5H)-ones and benzofused dihydro-2H-thiopyran S-oxides were submitted for anticancer screening at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. A number of these derivatives were identified as hit compounds, with excellent cell growth inhibition. One 3-aminofuran-2(5H)-one derivative has been chosen for further screening. The third chapter details the full experimental procedures, including spectroscopic and analytical data for the compounds prepared during this research. The data for the crystal structures are contained in the attached CD.

Profiling phytochemical and nutritional components of potato

Potatoes (Solanum Tuberosum L.) contain secondary metabolites that may have an impact on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of some of these compounds in a wide range of varieties, including rare, heritage and commercial cultivars. Vitamin C, total carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant activity and glycoalkaloids were determined, using spectroscopy and chromatography, in the skin and flesh of tubers grown in field trials. Transcript levels of key synthetic enzymes were assessed by qPCR. Accumulation of selected metabolites was higher in the skin than in the flesh of tubers, except ascorbate, which was undetected in the skin. Differences were on average 2.5 to 3-fold for carotenoids, 6-fold for phenolics, 15 to 16-fold for flavonoids, 21-fold for glycoalkaloids and 9 to 10-fold for antioxidant activity. Higher contents of carotenoids were associated with yellow skin or flesh, and higher values of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity with blue flesh. Variety ‘Burren’ had maxima values of carotenoids in skin and flesh, variety ‘Nicola’ of ascorbate, variety ‘Congo’ of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in both tissues, except antioxidant activity in the skin, which was higher in ‘Edzell Blue’. Varieties ‘May Queen’ and ‘International Kidney’ had highest glycoalkaloid content in skin and flesh respectively. The effect of the environment was diverse: year of cultivation was significant for all metabolites, but site of cultivation was not for carotenoids and glycoalkaloids. Levels of expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and chalcone synthase were higher in varieties accumulating high contents of phenolic compounds. However, levels of expression of phytoene synthase and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase were not different between varieties showing contrasting levels of carotenoids and ascorbate respectively. This work will help identify varieties that could be marketed as healthier and the most suitable varieties for extraction of high-value metabolites such as glycoalkaloids.

Studies on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) for novel food and beverage applications

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a seed crop native to the Andes, that can be used in a variety of food product in a similar manner to cereals. Unlike most plants, quinoa contains protein with a balanced amino acid profile. This makes it an interesting raw material for e.g. dairy product substitutes, a growing market in Europe and U.S. Quinoa can however have unpleasant off-flavours when processed into formulated products. One means of improving the palatability is seed germination. Also, the increased activities of hydrolytic enzymes can have a beneficial influence in food processing. In this thesis, the germination pattern of quinoa was studied, and the influence of quinoa malt was evaluated in a model product. Additionally, to explore its potential for dairy-type products, quinoa protein was isolated from an embryo-enriched milling fraction of non-germinated quinoa and tested for functional and gelation properties. Quinoa seeds imbibed water very rapidly, and most seeds showed radicle protrusion after 8-9 h. The α-amylase activity was very low, and started to increase only after 24 hours of germination in the starchy perisperm. Proteolytic activity was very high in dry ungerminated seeds, and increased slightly over 24 h. A significant fraction of this activity was located in the micropylar endosperm. The incorporation of germinated quinoa in gluten-free bread had no significant effect on the baking properties due to low α-amylase activity. Upon acidification with glucono-δ-lactone, quinoa milk formed a structured gel. The gelation behaviour was further studied using a quinoa protein isolate (QPI) extracted from an embryoenriched milling fraction. QPI required a heat-denaturation step to form gel structures. The heating pH influenced the properties drastically: heating at pH 10.5 led to a dramatic increase in solubility, emulsifying properties, and a formation of a fine-structured gel with a high storage modulus (G') when acidified. Heating at pH 8.5 varied very little from the unheated protein in terms of functional properties, and only formed a randomly aggregated coagulum with a low G'. Further study of changes over the course of heating showed that the mechanism of heat-denaturation and aggregation indeed varied largely depending on pH. The large difference in gelation behaviour may be related to the nature of aggregates formed during heating. To conclude, germination for increased enzyme activities may not be feasible, but the structure-forming properties of quinoa protein could possibly be exploited in dairy-type products.

Interference with the germination and growth ofUlvazoospores by quorum-sensing molecules fromUlva-associated epiphytic bacteria

Ulva zoospores preferentially settle on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) producing marine bacterial biofilms. To investigate whether AHL signal molecules also affect the success and rate of zoospore germination in addition to zoospore attraction, the epiphytic bacteria associated with mature Ulva linza were characterized and bacterial isolates representative of this community tested for the ability to produce AHLs. Two of these AHL-producing isolates, Sulfitobacter spp. 376 and Shewanella spp. 79, were transformed with plasmids expressing the Bacillus spp. AHL lactonase gene aiiA to generate AHL-deficient variants. The germination and growth of U. linza zoospores was studied in the presence of these AHL-deficient strains and their AHL-producing counterparts. This revealed that the AHLs produced by Sulfitobacter spp. and Shewanella spp. or the bacterial products they regulate have a negative impact on both zoospore germination and the early growth of the Ulva germling. Further experiments with Escherichia coli biofilms expressing recombinant AHL synthases and synthetic AHLs provide data to demonstrate that zoospores germinated and grown in the absence of AHLs were significantly longer than those germinated in the presence of AHLs. These results reveal an additional role for AHLs per se in the interactive relationships between marine bacteria and Ulva zoospores.

Interference with the germination and growth of Ulvazoospores by quorum-sensing molecules from Ulva-associated epiphytic bacteria

Ulva zoospores preferentially settle on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) producing marine bacterial biofilms. To investigate whether AHL signal molecules also affect the success and rate of zoospore germination in addition to zoospore attraction, the epiphytic bacteria associated with mature Ulva linza were characterized and bacterial isolates representative of this community tested for the ability to produce AHLs. Two of these AHL-producing isolates, Sulfitobacter spp. 376 and Shewanella spp. 79, were transformed with plasmids expressing the Bacillus spp. AHL lactonase gene aiiA to generate AHL-deficient variants. The germination and growth of U. linza zoospores was studied in the presence of these AHL-deficient strains and their AHL-producing counterparts. This revealed that the AHLs produced by Sulfitobacter spp. and Shewanella spp. or the bacterial products they regulate have a negative impact on both zoospore germination and the early growth of the Ulva germling. Further experiments with Escherichia coli biofilms expressing recombinant AHL synthases and synthetic AHLs provide data to demonstrate that zoospores germinated and grown in the absence of AHLs were significantly longer than those germinated in the presence of AHLs. These results reveal an additional role for AHLs per se in the interactive relationships between marine bacteria and Ulva zoospores.