Tolyporphins L-R: Unusual Tetrapyrroles from a Brasilonema sp. of Cyanobacterium.

Tolyporphins L-R (2-8) have been isolated from a mixed cyanobacterium-microbial culture. The structures of tolyporphins L and M have been revised to four constitutional isomers, isolated as two mixtures of dioxobacteriochlorins (2/3 and 4/5). In contrast, tolyporphin P (6) is a fully oxidized tetrapyrrole, while tolyporphins Q and R (7 and 8) are oxochlorins. X-ray structures are reported for the first time for tolyporphins A (1), R (8), and E (9), revealing unexpected stereochemical variation within the series.

6-Deoxy- and 11-Hydroxytolypodiols: Meroterpenoids from the Cyanobacterium HT-58-2.

Chemical investigation of cyanobacterial strain HT-58-2, which most closely aligns with the genus Brasilomena, has led to the isolation of two compounds related to tolypodiol. The structures and absolute configuration of 6-deoxytolypodiol (1) and 11-hydroxytolypodiol (2) were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis. While tolypodiol previously showed anti-inflammatory activity in a mouse ear edema assay, only 2 reduced in vitro thromboxane B2 and superoxide anion (O2-) generation from Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-activated rat neonatal microglia to any appreciable degree.

Quantitation of Tolyporphins, Diverse Tetrapyrrole Secondary Metabolites with Chlorophyll-Like Absorption, from a Filamentous Cyanobacterium-Microbial Community.

INTRODUCTION: Tolyporphins are unusual tetrapyrrole macrocycles produced by a non-axenic filamentous cyanobacterium (HT-58-2). Tolyporphins A-J, L, and M share a common dioxobacteriochlorin core, differ in peripheral substituents, and exhibit absorption spectra that overlap that of the dominant cyanobacterial pigment, chlorophyll a. Identification and accurate quantitation of the various tolyporphins in these chlorophyll-rich samples presents challenges. OBJECTIVE: To develop methods for the quantitative determination of tolyporphins produced under various growth conditions relative to that of chlorophyll a. METHODOLOGY: Chromatographic fractionation of large-scale (440 L) cultures afforded isolated individual tolyporphins. Lipophilic extraction of small-scale (25 mL) cultures, HPLC separation with an internal standard, and absorption detection enabled quantitation of tolyporphin A and chlorophyll a, and by inference the amounts of tolyporphins A-M. Absorption spectroscopy with multicomponent analysis of lipophilic extracts (2 mL cultures) afforded the ratio of all tolyporphins to chlorophyll a. The reported absorption spectral data for the various tolyporphins required re-evaluation for quantitative purposes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The amount of tolyporphin A after 50 days of illumination ranged from 0.13 nmol/mg dry cells (media containing nitrate) to 1.12 nmol/mg (without nitrate), with maximum 0.23 times that of chlorophyll a. Under soluble-nitrogen deprivation after 35-50 days, tolyporphin A represents 1/3-1/2 of the total tolyporphins, and the total amount of tolyporphins is up to 1.8-fold that of chlorophyll a. CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative methods developed herein should facilitate investigation of the biosynthesis of tolyporphins (and other tetrapyrroles) as well as examination of other strains for production of tolyporphins. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Identification, Heterologous Expression, and Characterization of the Tolypodiol Biosynthetic Gene Cluster through an Integrated Approach.

Cyanobacteria are tremendous producers of biologically active natural products, including the potent anti-inflammatory compound tolypodiol. However, linking biosynthetic gene clusters with compound production in cyanobacteria has lagged behind that in other bacterial genera. Tolypodiol is a meroterpenoid originally isolated from the cyanobacterium HT-58-2. Here we describe the identification of the tolypodiol biosynthetic gene cluster through heterologous expression in Anabaena and in vitro protein assays of a methyltransferase found in the tolypodiol biosynthetic gene cluster. We have also identified similar biosynthetic gene clusters in cyanobacterial and actinobacterial genomes, suggesting that meroterpenoids with structural similarity to the tolypodiols may be synthesized by other microbes. We also report the identification of two new analogs of tolypodiol that we have identified in both the original and heterologous producer. This work further illustrates the usefulness of Anabaena as a heterologous expression host for cyanobacterial compounds and how integrated approaches can help to link natural product compounds with their producing biosynthetic gene clusters.

Lipopolysaccharide from the Cyanobacterium Geitlerinema sp. Induces Neutrophil Infiltration and Lung Inflammation.

Glucocorticoid-resistant asthma, which predominates with neutrophils instead of eosinophils, is an increasing health concern. One potential source for the induction of neutrophil-predominant asthma is aerosolized lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cyanobacteria have recently caused significant tidal blooms, and aerosolized cyanobacterial LPS has been detected near the cyanobacterial overgrowth. We hypothesized that cyanobacterial LPS contributes to lung inflammation by increasing factors that promote lung inflammation and neutrophil recruitment. To test this hypothesis, c57Bl/6 mice were exposed intranasally to LPS from the cyanobacterium member, Geitlerinema sp., in vivo to assess neutrophil infiltration and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from the bronchoalveolar fluid by ELISA. Additionally, we exposed the airway epithelial cell line, A549, to Geitlerinema sp. LPS in vitro to confirm that airway epithelial cells were stimulated by this LPS to increase cytokine production and the expression of the adhesion molecule, ICAM-1. Our data demonstrate that Geitlerinema sp. LPS induces lung neutrophil infiltration, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin (IL)-6, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and Interferongamma as well as the chemokines IL-8 and RANTES. Additionally, we demonstrate that Geitlerinema sp. LPS directly activates airway epithelial cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and the adhesion molecule, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), in vitro using the airway epithelial cell line, A549. Based on our findings that use Geitlerinema sp. LPS as a model system, the data indicate that cyanobacteria LPS may contribute to the development of glucocorticoid-resistant asthma seen near water sources that contain high levels of cyanobacteria.

E-Selective Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of Pyridine-Phosphaalkenes: Five Ligands Produce Four Distinct Types of Ru(II) Complexes.

Pyridine-phosphaalkene (PN) ligands 2a-e were prepared in an E-selective fashion using phospha-Wittig methodology. Treatment of these five ligands, varying only in their 6-substituent with RuCl2(PPh3)3, produced four distinct types of coordination complexes: pyridine-phosphaalkene-derived 3b,d, cyclized 4e, and six-coordinate 5a and 6c. Prolonged heating of 3b,d in THF resulted in C-H activation of the Mes* group and cyclization to give 4b,d featuring a bidentate pyridine-phospholane ligand bound to the metal center. Complex 5a, also possessing a newly formed phospholane ring, contained a different spatial arrangement of donors to Ru(II) with an agostic Ru-H-C interaction serving as the sixth donor to the transition metal center. Ligands 2b,d,e and Ru(II) complexes 3b, 4b,e and 5a were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate 6c featured a structure similar to 4b,d,e, but with the CF3 substituent acting as a weakly bound sixth ligand to the Ru(II) center, as observed by 31P{1H} and19F NMR spectroscopy. The calculated structure of 6c established that the closest Ru- - -F contact was at 2.978 Å.

Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Cyanobacterium Geitlerinema sp. LPS on Human Monocytes.

Cyanobacterial blooms are an increasing source of environmental toxins that affect both human and animals. After ingestion of cyanobacteria, such as Geitlerinema sp., toxins and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from this organism induce fever, gastrointestinal illness, and even death. However, little is known regarding the effects of cyanobacterial LPS on human monocytes after exposure to LPS upon ingestion. Based on our previous data using Geitlerinema sp. LPS (which was previously named Oscillatoria sp., a genus belonging to the same order as Geitlerinema), we hypothesized that Geitlerinema sp. LPS would activate human monocytes to proliferate, phagocytose particles, and produce cytokines that are critical for promoting proinflammatory responses in the gut. Our data demonstrate that Geitlerinema sp. LPS induced monocyte proliferation and TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 production at high concentrations. In contrast, Geitlerinema sp. LPS is equally capable of inducing monocyte-mediated phagocytosis of FITC-latex beads when compared with Escherichia coli LPS, which was used as a positive control for our experiments. In order to understand the mechanism responsible for the difference in efficacy between Geitlerinema sp. LPS and E. coli LPS, we performed biochemical analysis and identified that Geitlerinema sp. LPS was composed of significantly different sugars and fatty acid side chains in comparison to E. coli LPS. The lipid A portion of Geitlerinema sp. LPS contained longer fatty acid side chains, such as C15:0, C16:0, and C18:0, instead of C12:0 found in E. coli LPS which may explain the decreased efficacy and toxicity of Geitlerinema sp. LPS in comparison to E. coli LPS.