THE PHOTOACTIVE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF EUDISTOMINS FROM THE CARIBBEAN TUNICATE Eudistoma olivaceum |
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| Authors: | J B Hudson H Saboune Z Abramowski G H N Towers K L Rinehart Jr |
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| Institution: | Division of Medical Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada;Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada;Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract— Five eudistomins, β-carboline derivatives isolated from a Caribbean tunicate, were tested for phototoxicity against several viruses, bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. The five compounds showed varying degrees of UVA dependant phototoxicity (i.e. long wavelength UV dependant) against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), Sindbis virus (SV) and mouse 3T3 cells, although the relative order of potency was the same for these three organisms. Eudistomin N was the most active (approximately the same as the β-carboline, harmine), while eudistomins M and O were moderately phototoxic, and H and I had little activity. To some degree the relative phototoxicity was correlated with fewer side chain substituents. A similar relative order of phototoxic potency was seen against phage T4, but in this case the magnitude of the effect was considerably reduced, in contrast to harmine. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were not correlated with antiviral effects, and some UVA-independent activities were seen. Thus the eudistomins may possess different mechanisms of action against different organisms, depending upon the presence or absence of UVA. |
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