Lipid profiling of cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 using two‐dimensional liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Glycerolipid is a main component of membranes in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Up to now, the majority of publication in this area has focused on the physiological functions of glycerolipids and lipoprotein complexes in photosynthesis, but the study on the separation and identification of glycerolipids in thylakoid membrane in cyanobacteria is relatively rare. Here we report a new method to separate and identify five photosynthetic glycerolipid classes, including monoglucosyl diacylglycerol, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, digalactosyl diacylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylglycerol, in cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 by two‐dimensional (normal‐ and reversed‐phase) liquid chromatography online coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Over twice as many lipid species were detected by our method compared to the previously reported methods. Ten new odd‐chain fatty acid glycerolipids were discovered for the first time. Moreover, complete separation of isomers of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol and monoglucosyl diacylglycerol was achieved. According to the tandem mass spectrometry results, we found that the head group of monoglucosyl diacylglycerols was not as stable as that of monogalactosyl diacylglycerols, which might explain why the organism chose monogalactosyl diacylglycerols and digalactosyl diacylglycerols instead of monoglucosyl diacylglycerols as the main content of the photosynthetic membranes in the history of evolution. This work will benefit further research on the physiological function of glycerolipids.     

Three new glycolipids with cytolytic activity from cultured marine dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama

A monogalactosyl monoacylglycerol 1 and two digalactosyl monoacylglycerols 2 and 3 were isolated from a cultured marine dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama along with known (2S)-1-O-6,9,12,15-octadecatetraenoyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-sn-glycerol (4). On the basis of spectral analysis, the glycolipid 1 was characterised as (2S)-1-O-3,6,9,12,15-octadecapentaenoyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-sn-glycerol. The glycolipids 2 and 3 were characterised as (2S)-1-O-3,6,9,12,15-octadecapentaenoyl-3-O-[alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1' --> 6')-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-sn-glycerol and (2S)-1-O-6,9,12,15-octadecatetraenoyl-3-O-[alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1' --> 6')-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-sn-glycerol, respectively. The isolated monoacylglycerols 1-4 showed cytolytic activity towards heart and gill cells of oyster.     

Comparison of Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization and Electrospray:Determination of Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerols from Cyanobacteria by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray (ES) mass spectrometry (MS) in both positive and negative ionization modes coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been used for the characterization of monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) from cyanobacteria Anabaena cylindrica and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.     

Concentration quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in bilayer lipid vesicles and liposomes

The fluorescence yields and lifetimes of chlorophyll-a-in lipid liposomes and vesicles have been measured in an attempt to understand the light harvesting mechanism of photosynthesis. Concentration quenching of the fluorescence was observed in all systems, the extent depending on the lipid used. The system having the highest half-quenching concentration (7.0 × 10^?2 molal) was 3:1 mole to mole mixture of monogalactosyl diglyceride and digalactosyl diglyceride.     

Characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry of the lipid fraction of Spirulina platensis pressurized ethanol extract

Microalgae have been suggested as a potential source for new functional ingredients, making possible the development of new functional foods from natural origin. Among the natural ingredients, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have generally been identified as an interesting group of compounds with biological activity, mainly related to their anti-inflammatory properties. In this regard, the use of environmentally friendly extraction procedures (e.g. pressurized liquid extraction, PLE) to obtain such natural ingredients is also becoming necessary. In this work, an exhaustive characterization of the lipid fraction of a pressurized ethanolic extract of the microalga Spirulina platensis is carried out. To achieve this objective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) is employed. The use of the QTOF analyzer allows the selection and isolation of precursor ions as well as providing the high efficiency, sensitivity and mass accuracy required. By means of this powerful hyphenated technique, it was possible to identify several polar lipids in an extract of S. platensis (some of them, to our knowledge, described for the first time in this work), including four free fatty acids, four monogalactosyl monoacylglycerols, three phosphatidylglycerols and two sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols.     

Improved resolution of natural diacylglycerols by gas-liquid chromatography on polar siloxanes.

A new cyanoalkylphenylsiloxane (SILAR 5CP) liquid phase is shown to possess sufficient polarity to permit improved GC separations of natural diacylglycerols based on unsaturation and positional placement of fatty acids as well as on molecular weight, which was previously possible only on ethylene glycol succinate polyesters. Unlike the polyesters, the polar siloxane polymer has moderate thermal stability and provides GC columns which can be used for several months without replacing the packing. The GC analyses were made with conventional columns containing 3% SILAR 5CP on Gas Chrom Q at 270 degrees C isothermally. The diacylglycerols were chromatographed as the TMS ethers. Excellent seperations were obtained for the 1,2(2,3)- and 1,3-diacyglycerols derived from corn, linseed, peanut and cod liver oils and for the 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols from hepatic glycerophospholipids.     

Eremophilane sesquiterenes from the marine fungus Penicillium sp. BL27-2

Six eremophilane sesquiterpenes were obtained from a marine fungus Penicillium sp. BL27-2. Their structures were elucidated as 3-acetyl-9, 7 （11）-dien-7a-hydroxy-8-oxoeremophilane （1）, 3-acetyl-13-deoxyphomenone （2）, Sporogen-AO 1 （3）, 7-hydro- xypetasol （4）, 8a-hydroxy-13-deo -xyphomenone （5） and 6-dehydropetasol （6） based on detailed NMR analysis. 1 was a new compound and 2 was obtained as a new natural compound. These compounds were assayed for their cytotoxic activity on P388, A549, HL60, BEL7402 and K562 cell lines by the MTT method. The assay results suggested the epoxide rings in eremophilane molecules were essential for their activity, and acetylation could enhance their activity.     

Chemical constituents from Farfugium japonicum var. formosanum

Two new eremophilenolides, 6beta,8beta,10beta-trihydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (1) and 3beta-acetoxy-8alpha-hydroxy-6beta-methoxyeremophila-7(11),9-dien-12,8-olide (2) along with twenty-nine other compounds were obtained from the methanolic extracts of the aerial parts and rhizomes of Farfugium japonicum (L.) Kitam. var. formosanum (Hayata) Kitam. (Compositae = Asteraceae). The structures of the isolated compounds were characterized and identified by spectral techniques. Compounds 5, 6, 10, 12-24, 29, and 30, were reported for the first time from this genus. Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compounds 3 and 16 possessed moderate cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell line (MCF 7). Compounds 3, 16, 25 and 26 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against hepatoma cells (Hep G2 and Hep 3B). With respect to the anti-inflammatory activity, compounds 15 and 16 (each 10 microg/mL) inhibited superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to fMLP/CB by 92.0% and 87.3%, respectively.     

Three new oblongolides from Phomopsis sp. XZ-01, an endophytic fungus from Camptotheca acuminate

Four new metabolites, including three new oblongolides named C1, P1, and X1 (1-3) and 6-hydroxyphomodiol (10), along with eight known compounds--oblongolides B (4), C (5), D (6), O (7), P (8) and U (9), (3R,4aR,5S,6R)-6-hydroxy-5-methylramulosin (11), and (3R)-5-methylmellein (12)--were isolated from the endophytic fungal strain Phomopsis sp. XZ-01 of Camptotheca acuminate. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1H- and 13C-NMR, 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and NOESY) and HR-FT-MS. Cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated. Some of them showed weak selective activities.     

Secolignans, neolignans and phenylpropanoids from Daphne feddei and their biological activities

Two new secolignans and one new neolignan, named feddeiphenols A-C (1-3), together with eight known compounds (4-11), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphne feddei. Their structures were established on the base of spectroscopic methods, mainly extensive NMR, UV spectroscopy, and MS spectrometry. Compounds 1-11 were tested for their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 activity and cytotoxicity. The results revealed that compounds 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9 showed therapeutic index (TI) values above 30, respectively, and the other compounds also showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity. Compound 1 showed modest cytotoxic activity. The other compounds also showed weak cytotoxic activity.     

Constituents of Holothuroidea, 17. Isolation and structure of biologically active monosialo-gangliosides from the sea cucumber Cucumaria echinata

Three new monosialo-gangliosides, CEG-3 (3), CEG-4 (4), and CEG-5 (5), were obtained, together with two known gangliosides, SJG-1 (1) and CG-1 (2), from the lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the sea cucumber Cucumaria echinata. The structures of the new gangliosides were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence to be 1-O-[4-O-acetyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (3) and 1-O-[alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (4, 5). The ceramide moieties of each compound were composed of heterogeneous sphingosine or phytosphingosine bases, and 2-hydroxy or nonhydroxylated fatty acid units. These gangliosides showed neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC-12 in the presence of nerve growth factor.     

A dimeric titanium-containing polyoxometalate. Synthesis, characterization, and catalysis of H2O2-based thioether oxidation

The previously unknown titanium(IV)-containing mu-hydroxo dimeric heteropolytungstate (Bu4N)7[(PTiW11O39)2-OH] (TBA salt of H1) has been synthesized, starting from H5PTiW11O40, and characterized by elemental analysis, multinuclear (31P, 17O, 183W) NMR, IR, FAB-MS, cyclic voltammetry, and potentiometric titration. 31P NMR reveals that H1 (delta -12.76) readily forms in MeCN from the Keggin monomer (POM), PTiW11O40(5-) (2, delta -13.34), upon the addition of 1.5 equiv of H+, via the protonated species, P(TiOH)W11O39(4-) (H2, delta -13.44). The ratio of H1, 2, and H2, which are present in equilibrium in MeCN solution at 25 degrees C, depends on the concentration of both H+ and H2O. The Ti-O-Ti linkage readily reacts with nucleophilic reagents, such as H2O and ROH, to yield monomeric Keggin derivatives. mu-Hydroxo dimer H1 shows higher catalytic activity than 2 for thioether oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile. The reaction proceeds readily at room temperature and affords the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone in ca. quantitative yield. The addition of H2O2 to H1 or H2 results in the formation of a peroxo complex, most likely the hydroperoxo complex P(TiOOH)W11O39(4-) (I), which has 31P NMR resonance at -12.43 ppm. The rate of the formation of I is higher from H2 than from H1. When H1 is used as a catalyst precursor, the rates of the thioether oxidation and peroxo complex formation increase with increasing H2O concentration, which favors the cleavage of H1 to H2. H2O2 in MeCN slowly converts 2 to another peroxotitanium complex, P(TiO2)W11O39(5-) (II), which has 31P NMR resonance at -12.98 ppm. Peroxo complexes I and II differ in their protonation state and interconvert fast on the 31P NMR time scale. Addition of 1 equiv of H+ completely converts II to I, while 1 equiv of OH- completely converts I to II. 31P NMR confirms that I is stable under turnover conditions (thioether, H2O2, MeCN). Contrary to two-phase systems such as dichloroethane/aqueous H2O2, no products resulting from the destruction of the Keggin POM were detected in MeCN in the presence of H2O2 (a 500-fold molar excess). The reactivity of I, generated in situ from II by adding 1 equiv of H+, toward organic sulfides under stoichiometric conditions was confirmed using both 31P NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. This is a rare demonstration of the direct stoichiometric oxidation of an organic substrate by a titanium peroxo complex.     

Constituents of Holothuroidea, 18. Isolation and structure of biologically active disialo- and trisialo-gangliosides from the sea cucumber Cucumaria echinata

Three new disialo- and trisialo-gangliosides, CEG-6 (6), CEG-8 (8), and CEG-9 (9), were obtained, together with one known ganglioside, HLG-3 (7), from the lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the sea cucumber Cucumaria echinata. The structures of the new gangliosides were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence to be 1-O-[alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->4)-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (6) and 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->11)-(N-glycolyl-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->4)-(N-acetyl-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (8, 9). The ceramide moieties of each compound were composed of an homogeneous sphingosine or phytosphingosine base and heterogeneous 2-hydroxy or nonhydroxylated fatty acid units. These gangliosides showed neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC-12 in the presence of nerve growth factor.     

Inhibitory effects of constituents from Morus alba var. multicaulis on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells

A new arylbenzofuran, 3',5'-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-prenyl-2-arylbenzofuran (1), and 25 known compounds, including moracin R (2), moracin C (3), moracin O (4), moracin P (5), artoindonesianin O (6), moracin D (7), alabafuran A (8), mulberrofuran L (9), mulberrofuran Y (10), kuwanon A (11), kuwanon C (12), kuwanon T (13), morusin (14), kuwanon E (15), sanggenon F (16), betulinic acid (17), uvaol (18), ursolic acid (19), β-sitosterol (20), oxyresveratrol 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (21), mulberroside A (22), mulberroside B (23), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (24), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (25) and adenosine (26), were isolated from Morus alba var. multicaulis Perro. (Moraceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The prenyl-flavonoids 11-14, 16, triterpenoids 17,18 and 20 showed significant inhibitory activity towards the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The arylbenzofurans 1-10 and prenyl-flavonoids 11-16 also showed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effects in RAW264.7 cells.     

二(三)丁基锡烯基(炔基)膦酸酯的合成与表征

合成了12个新的二(三)丁基锡烯基(炔基)膦酸酯[(n-C4H9)nSn]n-1O2P(0)R,并用元素分析,红外光谱,核磁共振氢谱和TG-DTA对其组成和结构进行了表征,初步生物活性测试表明,有些化合物具有较强的杀螨和杀菌活性。     

Studies on anti-ulcer agents. II. Synthesis and anti-ulcer activities of 6-isopropylazulene-1-sodium sulfonate derivatives

A series of alkylazulene-1-sodium sulfonate derivatives which has an isopropyl group at 6-position were synthesized, and their anti-ulcer activities were examined in Shay pylorus-ligated rats. The values of lipophilicity (log P) as a parameter of these new azulene derivatives were also examined in reference to the structure-activity relationship. The optimum value of log P, which showed maximal anti-ulcer activity, was about -0.46. Among the derivatives of azulene examined, 3-ethyl-6-isopropylazulene-1-sodium sulfonate (compound IXb:XT1-785) exhibited the most potent inhibitory action against Shay ulcer, and its anti-peptic activity was similar to that of 3-ethyl-7-isopropylazulene-1-sodium sulfonate (KT1-32). It also had more activity than guaiazulene sodium sulfonate (GAS). Furthermore, KT1-785 was extremely stable under heating as compared to GAS.     

Three new naphthoquinone derivatives from Diospyros maritima Blume

Three new naphthoquinone derivatives, 6-(1-ethoxyethyl)plumbagin (16), ethylidene-3,3'-biplumbagin (17), and ethylidene-3,6'-biplumbagin (18), were isolated, in addition to six known naphthoquinones, isozeylanone (10), 3,3'-biplumbagin (11), chitranone (12), methylene-3,3'-biplumbagin (13), 2,3-epoxyplumbagin (14), and 3,8'-biplumbagin (15), from the fruits of Diospyros maritima Blume (Ebenaceae). The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. The eight naphthoquinones 11-18 were examined for ichthyotoxic activity and germination inhibitory activity. The quinones 11, 12, and 14-16 showed strong ichthyotoxic activity and the quinone 14 mild germination inhibitory activity.     

Protolimonoids and norlimonoids from the stem bark of Toona ciliata var. pubescens

Six new tirucallane protolimonoids, toonapubesins A-F (1-6), one new rearranged tirucallane protolimonoid, toonapubesin G (7), and two new 21,22,23-trinorapotirucallane limonoids, toonapubesic acids A (8) and B (9), possessing an unprecedented carbon skeleton, along with five known tirucallane protolimonoids (10-14) and one known apotirucallane limonoid (15), were isolated from the stem bark of Toona ciliata var. pubescens. Their structures and relative configurations were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis and by chemical methods. The proposed structures of 8 and 11 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of their respective derivatives (8a and 11a). The absolute configuration of 8 was determined by a novel solid-state TDDFT ECD approach on its derivative 8a while the absolute configuration of 10 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. In addition, the structures of dyvariabilin H (10c) proposed by Sticher et al. and cneorin-NP(36) (11b) by Mondon et al. were corrected as 10 and 11, respectively. Toonapubesin G (7) showed promising inhibitory activity against CDC25B with an IC(50) value of 2.1 μM, while compound 8a showed significant cell protecting activity against H(2)O(2)-induced SH-SY5Y cell damage with 11.5% increase in cell viability.     

Effects of eleven flavonoids from the osteoprotective fraction of Drynaria fortunei (KUNZE) J. SM. on osteoblastic proliferation using an osteoblast-like cell line

Drynaria fortunei (KUNZE) J. SM. (DFE) is one of the most frequently used traditional Chinese medicines prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis in China. The present study was designed to investigate the osteoprotective constituents from Drynaria fortunei. The 60% ethanol extract of the rhizome of D. fortunei (DFE) was chromatographed on a D-101 macroporous resin column (psi 25x150 cm); three fractions (DFA eluted with water, DFB eluted with 30% and 50% ethanol, and DFC eluted with 95% ethanol) were obtained and their osteoprotective activity as examined both in vivo and in vitro. DFB showed significant activity on both the proliferation of UMR106 cells and promoting bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. A bioactivity-guided method led to the isolation of 11 flavonoids from this fraction (DFB) with antiosteoporotic activity, including two new compounds, kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside (1) and (R)-5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-flavanone 7-O-neohesperidoside (2), along with nine known ones: three flavanones (3-5), one flavone (7), one flavonol (6), two chromones (8, 10), maltol glucoside (9), and (-)-epicatechin (11). Compounds 4-11 are reported for the first time from this genus. We investigated the proliferative effects of the 11 compounds in the UMR106 osteoblastic cell line in vitro. All compounds exhibited the proliferative activity in the UMR106 cells at most of the concentrations tested. Most compounds are reported for the first time from the Drynaria genus and this was the first study of their proliferative activity in osteoblast-like cells. The main peaks in the HPLC fingerprint of the active fraction (DFB) were also identified.     

Improvement in the Iatroscan thin-layer chromatographic-flame ionisation detection analysis of marine lipids. Separation and quantitation of monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols in standards and natural samples.

Mono- and diacylglycerols are important intermediates in glycerolipid biodegradation and intracellular signalling pathways. A method for mass determination of these lipid classes in marine particles was developed using the Iatroscan, which combines thin layer chromatography (TLC) and flame ionisation detection (FID) techniques. We improved existing protocols by adding two elution steps: hexane-diethyl-ether-formic acid (70:30:0.2, v/v/v) after triacylglycerol and free fatty acid scan, and acetone 100% followed by chloroform-acetone-formic acid (99:1:0.2, v/v/v) after 1,2 diacylglycerols. Diacylglycerol isomers 1,2 and 1,3 were separated from each other, as well as from free sterols in standards and marine lipids from sediment trap particles. Monoacylglycerols were separated from pigments and galactosyl-lipids in the same trap samples and in a rich pigment phytoplankton extract of Dunaliella viridis. Quantitation of each class in samples was performed after calibration with 0.5 to 2 micrograms of standards. As many as 17 lipid classes can be identified and quantified in samples using this proposed six-step development.