Protease inhibitors from a Slovenian Lake Bled toxic waterbloom of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens

Three new protease inhibitors, planktopeptin BL1125, planktopeptin BL843 and planktopeptin BL1061 were isolated, along with three known compounds, anabaenopeptin A, anabaenopeptin B and anabaenopeptin F from the hydrophilic extract of Planktothrix rubescens. The planar structure of the new compounds was determined by homonuclear and inverse-heteronuclear 2D NMR techniques as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the asymmetric centers was studied using Marfey's method for HPLC and by comparison of the acid hydrolysate with authentic samples on a chiral HPLC column. The new peptides were found to be elastase and chymotrypsin inhibitors.