Sponge-derived polybrominated diphenyl ethers and dibenzo-p-dioxins, irreversible inhibitors of the bacterial α-d-galactosidase.

An integrated in vitro and in silico approach was applied to evaluate the potency of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) and spongiadioxins (OH-PBDDs) isolated from Dysidea sponges on the activity of the recombinant α-d-galactosidase of the GH36 family. It was revealed for the first time that all compounds rapidly and apparently irreversibly inhibited the bacterial α-d-galactosidase. The structure-activity relationship study in the series of OH-PBDEs showed that the presence of an additional hydroxyl group in 5 significantly enhanced the potency (IC50 4.26 µM); the increase of bromination in compounds from 1 to 3 increased their potency (IC50 41.8, 36.0, and 16.0 µM, respectively); the presence of a methoxy group decreased the potency (4, IC50 60.5 µM). Spongiadioxins 6, 7, and 8 (IC50 16.6, 33.1, and 28.6 µM, respectively) exhibited inhibitory action comparable to that of monohydroxylated diphenyl ethers 1-3. Docking analysis revealed that all compounds bind in a pocket close to the catalytic amino acid residues. Molecular docking detected significant compound-enzyme interactions in the binding sites of α-d-galactosidase. Superimposition of the enzyme-substrate and the enzyme-inhibitor complexes showed that their binding sites overlap.

Makaluvamine G from the Marine Sponge Zyzzia fuliginosa Inhibits Muscle nAChR by Binding at the Orthosteric and Allosteric Sites.

Diverse ligands of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) are used as muscle relaxants during surgery. Although a plethora of such molecules exists in the market, there is still a need for new drugs with rapid on/off-set, increased selectivity, and so forth. We found that pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloid Makaluvamine G (MG) inhibits several subtypes of nicotinic receptors and ionotropic γ-aminobutiric acid receptors, showing a higher affinity and moderate selectivity toward muscle nAChR. The action of MG on the latter was studied by a combination of electrophysiology, radioligand assay, fluorescent microscopy, and computer modeling. MG reveals a combination of competitive and un-competitive inhibition and caused an increase in the apparent desensitization rate of the murine muscle nAChR. Modeling ion channel kinetics provided evidence for MG binding in both orthosteric and allosteric sites. We also demonstrated that theα1 (G153S) mutant of the receptor, associated with the myasthenic syndrome, is more prone to inhibition by MG. Thus, MG appears to be a perspective hit molecule for the design of allosteric drugs targeting muscle nAChR, especially for treating slow-channel congenital myasthenic syndromes.

Influence of Merosesquiterpenoids from Marine Sponges on Seedling Root Growth of Agricultural Plants.

The impact of the merosesquiterpenoids avarol (1), avarone (2), 18-methylaminoavarone (3), melemeleone A (4), isospongiaquinone (5), ilimaquinone (6), and smenoquinone (7), isolated from marine sponges of the Dictyoceratida order, was studied on the root growth of seedlings of buckwheat (Fagopyrumesculentum Moench), wheat (Triticumaestivum L.), soy (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), and barley (Hordeumvulgare L.). Compounds 2and 6 were effective for the root growth of wheat seedlings, compound 3 stimulated the root growth of seedlings of buckwheat and soy, compound 4 affected the roots of barley seedlings, and compound 5 stimulated the root growth of seedlings of buckwheat and barley. Compounds 1 and 7 showed no activity on the root growth of the seedlings of any of the studied plants. The stimulatory effect depends on the chemical structure of the compounds and the type of crop plant.

N-Demethylaaptanone, A new Congener of Aaptamine Alkaloids from the Vietnamese Marine Sponge Aaptos aaptos.

A new compound, N-demethylaaptanone (5), having an oxygenated 1,6-naphthyridine core, has been isolated from the Vietnamese marine sponge Aaptos aaptos, along with the known metabolites, aaptamine (1), isoaaptamine (2), 9-demethylaaptamine (3), and aaptanone (4). The structure of N-demethylaaptanone was determined as 9-hydroxy-8-methoxy-4H-benzo[de][1,6]-naphthyridine-5,6-dione from spectroscopic data.

Sagitol D, a New Thiazole Containing Pyridoacridine Alkaloid from a Vietnamese Ascidian.

A new thiazole containing pyridoacridine alkaloid, named sagitol D (1), and five known alkaloids kuanoniaminesA (2), C (3), D (4), E (5), and F (6), have been isolated from an unidentified Vietnamese ascidian. The structure of the new compound was established from NMR spectroscopic data. Kuanoniamines C, D, E, and F showed moderate antioxidant activity in the DPPH (IC50 36 µM) and ABTS assays (TE = 0.5), while sagitol D showed weak activity (IC50 92 M;TE = 0.10), and kuanoniamine A was inactive.

Alkaloids from marine sponges as stimulators of initial stages of development of agricultural plants.

Damirone A (1), damirone B (2), makaluvamine G (3), debromohymenialdisine (4), and dibromoagelaspongin (5) were examined for their ability to stimulate growth of seedling roots of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), corn (Zea mays L.), soy (Glycine max (L.) Merr.}, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). It was shown that the stimulatory effects depend on the chemical structure of the alkaloids and on the plant species. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 are efficient for growth of seedling roots of barley, compounds 2-5, at different concentrations, stimulate growth of buckwheat roots, and compound 5 stimulates growth of wheat roots. These compounds can be recommended for field study as plant growth stimulators.

Antioxidant activity of zyzzyanones and makaluvamines from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa.

Antioxidant activities of zyzzyanones A-D (1-4) and makaluvamines C (8), E (5), G (6), H (9), and L (7) isolated from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa (Carter, 1879) were evaluated using 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) scavenging assay and AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride) induced autoxidation of linoleic acid. Zyzzyanones A, B (1, 2; TE = 0.3), C, D (3, 4; TE = 0.24) and makaluvamines 5-7 (TE = 0.6) displayed moderate activities in the ABTS assay and in the autoxidation of linoleic acid (61-66% inhibition at concentrations of 0.1 mM). Makaluvamines C (8) and H (9) were essentially inactive in the both assays. Structure-activity relationships showed that antioxidant activities of tested compounds depended on the presence of a phenolic function in molecules. Makaluvamines 5-7 possessing a p-hydroxystyryl moiety were more active than zyzzyanones 1-4 possessing a p-hydroxyphenyl fragment. The presence of a charged side chain in 1 and 2 slightly increases their ABTS scavenging activity in comparison with compounds 3 and 4. Structural variations in a pyrroloquinoline skeleton of 5-7 and in a dipyrroloquinone core of 1-4 have no effect on activities.

Free radical scavenging activities of naturally occurring and synthetic analogues of sea urchin naphthazarin pigments.

Antioxidant activities of minor pigments of sea urchins (1-5) and synthetic naphthazarins (7-13) were evaluated and compared with echinochrome A (6) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) scavenging assays. Structure-activity relationships showed that the antioxidant activities of the tested compounds depended on the number and positions of hydroxyl groups. Compounds bearing 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups on a naphthazarin core (5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) were the most active in both assays. Echinochrome A (6) (IC50 7.0 microM) and its monomethyl ethers 7 (IC50 15.0 microM) and 8 (IC50 15.0 microM) displayed stronger activities than Trolox (IC50 16.0 microM) in the DPPH and ABTS assays (TE = 3.41, 2.35, and 2.35 mM, respectively). Compounds with either one or without hydroxyl groups on a naphthazarin core displayed activities significantly lower than Trolox in both assays. These results suggest that hydroxylated naphthazarin pigments of sea urchins have a potential use as natural antioxidants.

New meroterpenoids from the marine sponge Aka coralliphaga.

Three new sulfated meroterpenoids containing sesquiterpene and hydroquinone moieties, namely siphonodictyal A sulfate (1), akadisulfate A (2) and akadisulfate B (3), along with the known siphonodictyal B3 and bis(sulfato)-cyclosiphonodictyol A were isolated from the sponge Aka coralliphaga. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Akadisulfate B and siphonodictyal B3 showed a radical-scavenging activity comparable with that of the known lipophylic antioxidant BHT.

Sesquiterpenoid aminoquinones from the marine sponge Dysidea sp.

Four new sesquiterpenoid arenarone derivatives, 18-aminoarenarone (1), 19-aminoarenarone (2), 18-methylaminoarenarone (3), and 19-methylaminoarenarone (4), and the new dimeric popolohuanone F (5), a derivative of 19-aminoarenarone (2) and arenarol (6), have been isolated from the Australian marine sponge Dysidea sp. together with the known compounds arenarol (6) and popolohuanone A (7). The structures of the new compounds 1-5 were established from extensive NMR spectroscopic data. Popolohuanones A (7) and F (5) and arenarol (6) showed DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC(50) values of 35, 35, and 19 microM, respectively.

Zyzzyanones B-D, dipyrroloquinones from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa.

Zyzzyanones B, C, and D (2-4), three new dipyrroloquinones with a pyrrolo[3,2-f]indole-4,8(1H,7H)-dione skeleton, have been isolated from the Australian marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa. The known zyzzyanone A, makaluvamines C, E, G, H, and L, damirones A and B, 3,7-dimethylguanine, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were also isolated. The structures of the new compounds 2-4 were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 2-4 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells (IC50 25 microg/mL).

Biological activities of marine sesquiterpenoid quinones: structure-activity relationships in cytotoxic and hemolytic assays.

Sesquiterpenoid quinones from marine sponges and their semisynthetic derivatives were compared for cytotoxicity on developing eggs of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus and Ehrlich carcinoma cells, and for hemolytic activities on mice red blood cells. Structure-activity studies showed that activities of these compounds with a hydroxyl group at C-20 ((2), (7)) were higher than their methoxyl ((1), (8)) and amino ((4), (5)) derivatives at this position. Sesquiterpenoid quinones containing a dihydropyran ring ((10)-(12)) had lower activity than noncyclic compounds. The structure of the terpenoid moieties of the compounds had no significant influence on biological activity. There was a direct correlation between cytotoxic and hemolytic activities. This report discusses the mechanism of action employed by these compounds against cell membranes.

Determination of the absolute stereochemistry of cyclosmenospongine.

The absolute stereochemistry of the sponge metabolite cyclosmenospongine (1) was determined as 5R, 8S, 9R, 10S by chemical correlation. Substitution of the methoxyl group by an amino group in the cyclic product 3 of acid-catalyzed rearrangement of ilimaquinone (5) afforded cyclosmenospongine 1. Cyclosmenospongine was also obtained by acid-catalyzed cyclization of smenospongine (6).

Two new minor polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins from the marine sponge Dysidea dendyi.

Two new minor tribromodibenzo-p-dioxins, spongiadioxin C (1) and its methyl ether (2), were isolated from an Australian marine sponge Dysidea dendyi, together with the known minor metabolites methyl ethers of spongiadioxins A (4) and B (6) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (7-9). The structures of the new compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by synthesis of 2 from diphenyl ether 9. All isolated compounds inhibited the cell division of fertilized sea urchin eggs.