Isolation and Identification of Cotylenins F and G

The structures of cotylenins F and G, isolated from the culture filtrate of a fungus (Cladosporium sp.), have been assigned as IV and V, respectively. Cotylenin G was derived from cotylenin F by treatment with a strong base.     

Genome‐guided investigation of plant natural product biosynthesis

The medicinal plant Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, produces hundreds of biologically active monoterpene‐derived indole alkaloid (MIA) metabolites and is the sole source of the potent, expensive anti‐cancer compounds vinblastine and vincristine. Access to a genome sequence would enable insights into the biochemistry, control, and evolution of genes responsible for MIA biosynthesis. However, generation of a near‐complete, scaffolded genome is prohibitive to small research communities due to the expense, time, and expertise required. In this study, we generated a genome assembly for C. roseus that provides a near‐comprehensive representation of the genic space that revealed the genomic context of key points within the MIA biosynthetic pathway including physically clustered genes, tandem gene duplication, expression sub‐functionalization, and putative neo‐functionalization. The genome sequence also facilitated high resolution co‐expression analyses that revealed three distinct clusters of co‐expression within the components of the MIA pathway. Coordinated biosynthesis of precursors and intermediates throughout the pathway appear to be a feature of vinblastine/vincristine biosynthesis. The C. roseus genome also revealed localization of enzyme‐rich genic regions and transporters near known biosynthetic enzymes, highlighting how even a draft genome sequence can empower the study of high‐value specialized metabolites.     

Chemical defenses shift with the seasonal vertical migration of a Panamanian poison frog

Dendrobatid poison frogs sequester lipophilic alkaloids from their arthropod prey to use as a form of chemical defense. Some dendrobatid frogs seasonally migrate between the leaf litter of the forest floor in the dry season to the canopy in the wet season, which may yield differences in prey (arthropods) and therefore alkaloid availability over space and time. Here, we document a seasonal vertical migration of Andinobates fulguritus (the yellow‐bellied poison frog) from ground to canopy between dry and wet seasons. We observed turnover in alkaloid composition between seasons and found that dry season frogs contained a lower relative quantity of alkaloids; however, there was no change in alkaloid richness between seasons. The 77 alkaloids of 13 structural classes identified in this population appear to be derived mostly from mites and ants, though the two most common alkaloids were mite derived. Our observed shifts in defensive profiles are consistent with well‐documented turnover in mite and ant communities between seasons and vertical strata. As climate change is expected to lengthen and strengthen dry seasons in many tropical regions, our results suggest that arboreal poison frogs forced to the ground for longer periods of time may see a shift in the abundance of alkaloids, possibly decreasing their defensive potential. This study provides further predictions for the wide‐reaching effects of climate change, even as nuanced as charismatic poison frogs losing their poisons. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Bis(monoterpenoid) indole alkaloid glucosides from Uncaria hirsuta

One novel bis(monoterpenoid) indole alkaloid glucoside, hirsutaside D (1), along with three known compounds, bahienoside A (2), bahienoside B (3) and neonaucleoside B (4), were isolated from the leaves of U. hirsuta. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and chemical means. Characterization of compounds 2–4 was based on spectral analysis and comparison with the literature. Their cytotoxic effects on four human tumor cell lines were examined.     

柳珊瑚共附生放线菌Streptomyces sp. SCSGAA0009中生物碱类化合物及其抗菌和抗附着活性

【目的】从南海柳珊瑚共附生放线菌的次生代谢产物中寻找具有抗菌和抗附着活性的先导化合物。【方法】应用化学与生物活性相结合的筛选方法,从柳珊瑚共附生微生物中筛选获得代谢产物丰富且具有生物活性的目标菌株并通过大发酵提取浸膏,利用硅胶柱色谱、凝胶柱色谱和高效液相色谱等方法对发酵产物进行分离、纯化,运用波谱解析鉴定化合物的结构。【结果】从采自海南三亚的柳珊瑚(Muricella flexuosa)样品中分离到一株放线菌SCSGAA0009,鉴定为链霉属Streptomycessp.,从其改良ISP2发酵液中分离到新化合物N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)propionamide(1)和已知化合物phenazine-1-carboxylic acid(2),其中化合物2对大肠杆菌和海洋细菌假单胞菌(Pseudoaltermonas piscida)具有较好抗菌活性,且有强抗草苔虫(Bugulaneritina)幼虫附着活性。【结论】首次从柳珊瑚共附生放线菌的次生代谢产物中获得新的生物碱化合物1,首次报道化合物2的抗海洋细菌活性和抗附着活性;从南海柳珊瑚共附生微生物的次生代谢产物中可以得到新化合物和活性化合物,这一来源的微生物资源值得深入研究。     

Opium poppy capsule growth and alkaloid production is constrained by shade during early floral development

Morphinan alkaloids accumulate in the capsules of Papaver somniferum L. (opium poppy) most likely as defence against herbivory. Thus, capsule size is an important component of alkaloid yield. Shade during early cell division-dominated growth of reproductive structures generally reduces final fruit size more than shade during later cell expansion-dominated growth. The current study aimed to determine whether this response is found in opium poppy and the subsequent impact on alkaloid yield, composition and seed production. First the timing of key reproductive developmental events was resolved relative to macromorphological traits. Plants were then shaded during either (a) floral initiation, (b) early floral development or (c) capsule expansion before being harvested at maturation. Shade during floral initiation dramatically reduced final capsule size, alkaloid yield and seed number, and increased the concentration of precursor compounds relative to morphine, despite plants later returning to full sun. Shade during later capsule growth enhanced capsule size and alkaloid yield but had little effect on alkaloid composition or seed number. Thus, early developmental processes, including morphine biosynthesis, appear to have a relatively greater demand for carbohydrates compared with later processes. Crop management practices and environmental factors that limit carbohydrate availability during early development are thus predicted to have significant negative impacts on alkaloid production and reproductive success.     

New Quinoline Alkaloids from the Leaves and Stems of Orixa japonica,Orijanone, Isopteleflorine and 3'-O-Methylorixine

Orixa japonica (Rutaceae) is a shrub widely distributed in Japan, and has been found to contain various quinoline alkaloids.

We investigated the alkaloidal constituents of O. japonica, and four quinoline alkaloids were isolated and characterized. Three of these alkaloids are new natural products.     

Spongiacidin C,a pyrrole alkaloid from the marine sponge Stylissa massa,functions as a USP7 inhibitor

USP7, a deubiquitylating enzyme hydrolyzing the isopeptide bond at the C-terminus of ubiquitin, is an emerging cancer target. We isolated spongiacidin C from the marine sponge Stylissa massa as the first USP7 inhibitor from a natural source. This compound inhibited USP7 most strongly with an IC₅₀ of 3.8 μM among several USP family members tested.     

Characterization of Burkholderia sp. strain CJ1, a newly isolated berberine-degrading bacterium from rhizosphere of Coptis japonica

ABSTRACT

Burkholderia sp. strain CJ1 was newly isolated as berberine (BBR) degrading bacteria from rhizosphere of Coptis japonica. CJ1 had the ability to utilize BBR as the sole carbon source and revealed that BBR metabolism via 11-hydroxylation and demethylenation pathway. It was also revealed that the 11-hydroxylation ability of BBR and palmatine (PAL) has induced by BBR.     

Novel chiral stationary phases based on 3,5-dimethyl phenylcarbamoylated β-cyclodextrin combining cinchona alkaloid moiety

Novel chiral selectors based on 3,5-dimethyl phenylcarbamoylated β-cyclodextrin connecting quinine (QN) or quinidine (QD) moiety were synthesized and immobilized on silica gel. Their chromatographic performances were investigated by comparing to the 3,5-dimethyl phenylcarbamoylated β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) chiral stationary phase (CSP) and 9-O-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-QN-based CSP (QN-AX). Fmoc-protected amino acids, chiral drug cloprostenol (which has been successfully employed in veterinary medicine), and neutral chiral analytes were evaluated on CSPs, and the results showed that the novel CSPs characterized as both enantioseparation capabilities of CD-based CSP and QN/QD-based CSPs have broader application range than β-CD-based CSP or QN/QD-based CSPs. It was found that QN/QD moieties play a dominant role in the overall enantioseparation process of Fmoc-amino acids accompanied by the synergistic effect of β-CD moiety, which lead to the different enantioseparation of β-CD-QN-based CSP and β-CD-QD-based CSP. Furthermore, new CSPs retain extraordinary enantioseparation of cyclodextrin-based CSP for some neutral analytes on normal phase and even exhibit better enantioseparation than the corresponding β-CD-based CSP for certain samples.