Tamandarins A and B: new cytotoxic depsipeptides from a Brazilian ascidian of the family Didemnidae

The structures of two new, naturally occurring cytotoxic depsipeptides, tamandarins A and B (1 and 2), are presented. The tamandarins were isolated from an unidentified Brazilian marine ascidian of the family Didemnidae. The structures of the new cytotoxins were assigned by interpretation of FABMS data and by extensive 2D NMR analyses. The absolute configurations of the tamandarins were assigned by acid and alkaline hydrolysis to yield their corresponding amino acids, which were then analyzed as their Marfey derivatives. The cytotoxicity of tamandarin A (1) was evaluated against various human cancer cell lines and shown to be slightly more potent than didemnin B. A qualitative discussion of the conformation of tamandarin A (1) in solution, obtained from NMR J-value data, variable temperature experiments, and NOESY/ROESY data, is included.     

Kitungolides A, B, and C, new diterpenes from a soft coral of a new genus

Three novel compounds, designated kitungolides A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from a soft coral of a new genus collected at Kitungamwe, Kenya. The three new compounds are of a unique heterotricyclic skeleton. The structures and relative stereochemistry of the compounds were elucidated by interpretation of MS, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. [structure: see text]     

Sorangiadenosine, a new sesquiterpene adenoside from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum

Sorangiadenosine (1), a novel nucleoside possessing a bicyclic, eudesmane-type sesquiterpene as an auxiliary component, was isolated from the culture broth of the gliding bacterium Sorangium cellulosum KM1003, collected from Korean soil. The chemical structure of this compound was determined by combined spectroscopic and chemical analyses. The new compound exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacterial strains.     

Halipeptins A and B: two novel potent anti-inflammatory cyclic depsipeptides from the Vanuatu marine sponge Haliclona species.

Two new metabolites, named halipeptins A and B, have been isolated from the marine sponge Haliclona sp. Their structures were determined by extensive use of one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, mass spectrometry, and UV and IR spectroscopy. Halipeptin A is a novel 17-membered cyclic depsipeptide, consisting of five residues including two alanines (with L stereochemistry) and three new residues that appear to be previously undescribed from natural sources: 1,2-oxazetidine-4-methyl-4-carboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-7-methoxydecanoic acid (HTMMD), and N-methyl-delta-hydroxyisoleucine. The HTMMD residue is substituted with 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-7-hydroxydecanoic acid in halipeptin B. Halipeptin A was found to possess very potent anti-inflammatory activity in vivo, causing about 60% inhibition of edema in mice at the dose of 300 microg/kg (i.p.).     

Scytalidamides A and B, new cytotoxic cyclic heptapeptides from a marine fungus of the genus Scytalidium

Two new cyclic heptapeptides have been isolated from the culture broth of a marine fungus, Scytalidium sp., collected from the Bahamas. The planar structures of scytalidamides A (1) and B (2) were assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, while the absolute configuration of the amino acid residues in both molecules was determined by application of the advanced Marfey's method. The absolute stereochemistry of the uncommon 3-methylproline moiety in scytalidamide B (2) was confirmed by isolation and CD measurements, as well as application of the advanced Marfey's method. Scytalidamides A (1) and B (2) showed moderate in vitro cytotoxicity toward HCT-116 human colon adenocarcinoma with IC(50) values of 2.7 and 11.0 microM, respectively.     

Stereochemical determination and complex biosynthetic assembly of etnangien, a highly potent RNA polymerase inhibitor from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum

A potent novel analogue of the natural macrolide antibiotic etnangien, a structurally unique RNA polymerase inhibitor from myxobacteria, is reported. It may be readily obtained from fermentation broths of Sorangium cellulosum and shows high antibiotic activity, comparable to that of etnangien. However, it is much more readily available than the notoriously labile authentic natural product itself. Importantly, it is stable under neutral conditions, allowing for elaborate NMR measurements for assignment of the 12 hydroxyl- and methyl-bearing stereogenic centers. The full absolute and relative stereochemistries of these complex polyketides were determined by a combination of extensive high-field NMR studies, including J-based configuration analysis, molecular modeling, and synthetic derivatization in combination with an innovative method based on biosynthetic studies of this polyketide which is also presented here. A first look into the solution conformation and 3D structure of these promising macrolide antibiotics is reported. Finally, the complete biosynthetic gene cluster was analyzed in detail, revealing a highly unusual and complex trans-AT type polyketide biosynthesis, which does not follow colinearity rules, most likely performs programmed iteration as well as module skipping, and exhibits HMG-CoA box-directed methylation.     

Marinomycins A-D, antitumor-antibiotics of a new structure class from a marine actinomycete of the recently discovered genus "marinispora"

Four antitumor-antibiotics of a new structure class, the marinomycins A-D (1-4), were isolated from the saline culture of a new group of marine actinomycetes, for which we have proposed the name "Marinispora". The structures of the marinomycins, which are unusual macrodiolides composed of dimeric 2-hydroxy-6-alkenyl-benzoic acid lactones with conjugated tetraene-pentahydroxy polyketide chains, were assigned by combined spectral and chemical methods. In room light, marinomycin A slowly isomerizes to its geometrical isomers marinomycins B and C. Marinomycins A-D show significant antimicrobial activities against drug resistant bacterial pathogens and demonstrate impressive and selective cancer cell cytotoxicities against six of the eight melanoma cell lines in the National Cancer Institute's 60 cell line panel. The discovery of these new compounds from a new, chemically rich genus further documents that marine actinomycetes are a significant resource for drug discovery.     

Seragamides A-F, new actin-targeting depsipeptides from the sponge Suberites japonicus Thiele

Six new depsipeptides, seragamides A-F (1-6), and a known geodiamolide I (7) have been isolated as cytotoxic metabolites from the Okinawan sponge Suberites japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformations. Seragamide A (1) promotes the polymerization of G-actin and stabilizes F-actin filaments.     

Ariakemicins A and B, novel polyketide-peptide antibiotics from a marine gliding bacterium of the genus Rapidithrix

Ariakemicins A (1) and B (2), unusual linear hybrid polyketide-nonribosomal peptide antibiotics, were discovered from the fermentation extract of the marine gliding bacterium Rapidithrix sp. These metabolites were positional isomers with regard to a double bond and chromatographically inseparable, rendering the structure study on a mixture basis. The ariakemicins were composed of threonine, two omega-amino-(omega-3)-methyl carboxylic acids with diene or triene units, and delta-isovanilloylbutyric acid. The antibiotics selectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria.     

Leufolins A and B, potent butyrylcholinesterase-inhibiting flavonoid glucosides from Leucas urticifolia

New flavonoidal glucosides leufolins A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the whole plants of Leucas urticifolia. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) spectral data. Both of these compounds exhibited significant inhibitory potential against the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase.     

Two new cucurbitacin glucosides, opercurins A and B, from the Brazilian folk medicine "Buchinha" (Luffa operculata)

The structures of two new cucurbitacin glucosides designated opercurins A (1) and B (2), isolated from the fruit of Luffa operculata, have been confirmed by extensive spectroscopic investigation.     

Total synthesis of spiruchostatin B, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, from a microorganism

The first total synthesis of spiruchostatin B, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, was achieved in a convergent manner; the synthesis established stereochemistry at the C5' position.     

Dictyotadimer A, a new dissymmetric bis-diterpene from a brown alga of the genus Dictyota

A phytochemical investigation of a Mediterranean brown alga (Dictyota sp.) led to the isolation of a novel C₄₀bis-diterpene, named dictyotadimer A. The chemical structure of this unusual dissymmetric dimer, characterized by a C-C linkage between two different xenicane units, was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analyses together with HR-ESI mass spectrometry. The relative configuration of the two diterpenoid components was determined by NOESY NMR correlations and molecular modeling. A plausible biogenetic pathway of dictyotadimer A was also proposed.     

Halichoblelides B and C,potent cytotoxic macrolides from a Streptomyces species separated from a marine fish

Halichoblelide B (1) and C (2), novel macrolides with potent cytotoxicity against tumor cells in culture, have been isolated from a strain of Streptomyces hygroscopicus originally derived from the marine fish Halichoeres bleekeri, and their absolute stereostructures have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical transformations. These compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines.     

Isolation and structure determination of the cembranoid eunicin from a new genus of octocoral, Pseudoplexaura

The known cembranoid diterpene eunicin (1) was isolated from a new genus of octocoral, Pseudoplexaura, collected in the Caribbean. The complete assignment of the 13C and 1H NMR spectra, including differentiation of pro-R and pro-S hydrogens and elucidation of all J values, was accomplished with the aid of TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC data, and a consideration of three low-energy conformations using SYBYL.     

A convergent synthesis of (+)-cryptophycin B, a potent antitumor macrolide from Nostoc sp. cyanobacteria

[structure--see text] An efficient and highly stereoselective synthesis of cryptophycin B (2), a potent cytotoxic agent, is described. The ester-derived titanium-enolate-mediated syn-aldol reaction was employed to generate the stereocenters C(5) and C(6). The route is convergent and provides a convenient access to the synthesis of structural variants of cryptophycin B as well as members of its family.