MS/MS-Based Molecular Networking Approach for the Detection of Aplysiatoxin-Related Compounds in Environmental Marine Cyanobacteria.

Certain strains of cyanobacteria produce a wide array of cyanotoxins, such as microcystins, lyngbyatoxins and aplysiatoxins, that are associated with public health issues. In this pilot study, an approach combining LC-MS/MS and molecular networking was employed as a rapid analytical method to detect aplysiatoxins present in four environmental marine cyanobacterial samples collected from intertidal areas in Singapore. Based on 16S-ITS rRNA gene sequences, these filamentous cyanobacterial samples collected from Pulau Hantu were determined as Trichodesmium erythraeum, Oscillatoria sp. PAB-2 and Okeania sp. PNG05-4. Organic extracts were prepared and analyzed on LC-HRMS/MS and Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) for the presence of aplysiatoxin-related molecules. From the molecular networking, six known compounds, debromoaplysiatoxin (1), anhydrodebromoaplysiatoxin (2), 3-methoxydebromoaplysiatoxin (3), aplysiatoxin (4), oscillatoxin A (5) and 31-noroscillatoxin B (6), as well as potential new analogues, were detected in these samples. In addition, differences and similarities in molecular networking clusters related to the aplysiatoxin molecular family were observed in extracts of Trichodesmium erythraeum collected from two different locations and from different cyanobacterial species found at Pulau Hantu, respectively.

A Fast Detection Strategy for Cyanobacterial blooms and associated cyanotoxins (FDSCC) reveals the occurrence of lyngbyatoxin A in campania (South Italy).

Fast Detection Strategy for Cyanobacterial blooms and associated Cyanotoxins (FDSCC) is a multidisciplinary strategy that allows early detection, in 24 man-hours, of cyanobacteria and related cyanotoxins in water and bivalve samples. This approach combines the advantages of remote/proximal sensing with those of analytical/bioinformatics analyses, namely, LC-HRMS-based molecular networking. The detection of Lyngbyatoxin A, a lipophilic cyanotoxin, in all analyzed water samples and in bivalves, commonly used as food, was the proof of the reliability of the new method.

Debromoaplysiatoxin in Lyngbya-dominated mats on manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Florida King's Bay ecosystem.

Proliferation of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium, Lyngbya, in Florida lakes and rivers has raised concerns about ecosystem and human health. Debromoaplysiatoxin (DAT) was measured in concentrations up to 6.31 microg/g wet weight lyngbyatoxin A equivalents (WWLAE) in Lyngbya-dominated mats collected from natural substrates. DAT was also detected (up to 1.19 microg/g WWLAE) in Lyngbya-dominated mats collected from manatee dorsa. Ulcerative dermatitis found on manatees is associated with, but has not been proven to be caused by DAT.

Distribution of tumor promoters in lipid membranes and changes in membrane structure.

The interaction of tumor promoters differing in molecular structure, namely, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and teleocidin, with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles was studied. Investigation by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy clarified the differences between the tumor promoters in the mode of interaction with lipid bilayer membranes. The temperature dependence of the bandwidth of the C-H or C = O stretching absorption of lipid molecules in the presence of tumor promoters relative to that in pure DPPC vesicles indicated that TPA is incorporated into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer membrane whilst teleocidin binds predominantly to the membrane surface. However, both tumor promoters tend to restrict the motion of lipid molecules in membranes. The same conclusion was derived from measurements of steady-state fluorescence polarization, which showed that tumor promoters decreased the membrane fluidity. On the other hand, carboxyfluorescein (CF) leakage from vesicles was enhanced by the addition of TPA below the phase-transition temperature, whereas the effect of teleocidin on steady-state CF leakage was not as significant. It is considered that the difference in the profile of the TPA-induced increase in CF leakage compared to that of teleocidin might be ascribable to a different binding site for each tumor promoter in the membranes.

Structural investigation of protein kinase C inhibitors.

The phospholipid and Ca2+ dependent protein kinase (PKC) plays an essential role in a variety of cellular events. Inhibition of PKC was shown to arrest growth in tumor cell cultures making it a target for possible antitumor therapy. Calphostins are potent inhibitors of PKC with high affinity for the enzyme regulatory site. Structural characteristics of calphostins, which confer the inhibitory activity, are investigated by comparing their optimized structures with the existing models for PKC activation. The resulting model of inhibitory activity assumes interaction with two out of the three electrostatic interaction sites postulated for activators. The model shows two sites of hydrophobic interaction and enables the inhibitory activity of gossypol to be accounted for.

[The active structure of tumor promoters].

Diterpene esters containing 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the alkaloid teleocidins are structurally unrelated natural products that exhibit similar potent skin tumor-promoting activity. These promoters are classified as TPA-type promoters because they bind equally to the phorbol ester receptor. TPA can be considered as an amphiphilic compound, with a hydrophilic domain spanning the C-3 to C-20 region of the molecule and a lipophilic domain consisting of the acyl substituents on C-12 and C-13. Teleocidins can also be considered as amphiphilic compounds, with the hydrophilic domain spanning the C-11 to C-14 region of the molecule and the lipophilic domain consisting of the alkyl substituents on C-6, C-7 and C-12. Teleocidins exist in two conformational states, the TWIST form and the SOFA form, in solution. From the ratio of the two conformations in solution, the free-energy difference between them was calculated to be 0-1.5 kcal/mol. Therefore a possible role of one of the two conformations should be considered in the modeling of receptor mapping. Computer modeling of the SOFA form of teleocidins and TPA showed a marked similarity with regards to the hydrogen bonding sites of the hydrophilic substituents. In this case, good superposition of the lipophilic regions of both types of compounds was obtained.

A radioimmunoassay for the teleocidins using 26 (2'-aminoethylthio)-tetrahydroteleocidin A-2 as hapten.

A teleocidin A-2 derivative, 26 (2'-aminoethylthio)-tetrahydroteleocidin A-2, induced ornithine decarboxylase in mouse skin and inhibited the specific binding of [3H]12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate to a mouse skin particulate fraction with a potency that was weaker than that of teleocidin A-2 and stronger than that of (-)-indolactam-V. To obtain antibodies, 26 (2'-aminoethylthio)-tetrahydroteleocidin A-2 was covalently linked to bovine albumin with a carbodiimide and the resulting conjugate used for immunization of rabbits. Antibodies directed toward teleocidin were produced as measured by neutralization of teleocidin's capacity to stimulate arachidonic acid metabolism in rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line). An 125I-labeled ligand was prepared by reaction of the same derivative with radiolabeled Bolton-Hunter reagent. The antibodies bound this radiolabeled hapten, and the binding increased progressively with repeated immunizations. After absorption of the rabbit IgG with a goat anti-rabbit IgG, binding was reduced greater than 95%. The binding of the 125I-labeled ligand to the antibodies of one rabbit had an apparent average association constant of 2.84 x 10(9) M-1 at 0 degrees C. The serologic specificity of the antiserum was characterized by measuring the inhibition of binding by several teleocidins of varying structure as well as by other tumor promoters and toxins. The rank order of inhibitory activity expressed as concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) was for 26 (2'-aminoethylthio)-tetrahydroteleocidin A-2'(0.56 pmol) greater than teleocidin A-1 (6.5 pmol) greater than or equal to teleocidin A-2 (7.3 pmol) greater than (-)-indolactam-V (3.7 nmol) greater than teleocidin B-4 (13 nmol). Maitotoxin, aplysiatoxin, palytoxin, mezerein, okadaic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate did not inhibit at the levels tested.

Identification of tumor promoters by their inhibitory effect on intercellular transfer of lucifer yellow.

The effect of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), mezerein, teleocidin, anthralin, the Ca2+-ionophore A23187, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and phenobarbital (PB) on lucifer yellow transfer in cultures of SV-40-transformed Djungarian hamster fibroblasts was studied. TPA, mezerein, teleocidin, A23187, DDT and BHT exerted a strong inhibitory effect on cell-to-cell dye transfer. Anthralin uncoupled cells in 3 experiments out of 6. PB appeared to enhance lucifer yellow transfer. Sodium nitrite, a substance with unknown promoting activity, effectively uncoupled cells. All the promoters investigated had a reversible effect on the dye transfer. The value of the dye transfer method for promoter screening is discussed.