Emily L. Whitson

Clerodane Diterpenes from Casearia arguta That Act As Synergistic TRAIL Sensitizers

Casearia arguta was investigated as part of the ongoing search for synergistic TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) sensitizers. As a result of this study, argutins A-H, eight new highly oxygenated clerodane diterpenes, were isolated from the plant Casearia arguta collected in Guatemala. The modified Mosher ester method was utilized to establish the absolute configuration of argutins A and F. Each of the argutins showed varying levels of synergy with TRAIL. Argutin B showed the highest TRAIL sensitization; the synergistic effect of argutin B and TRAIL together was 3-fold greater than argutin B alone.

Spheciosterol Sulfates, PKCζ Inhibitors from a Philippine Sponge Spheciospongia sp.

Three new sterol sulfates, spheciosterol sulfates A−C (1−3), and the known sterol sulfate topsentiasterol sulfate E (4) have been isolated from the sponge Spheciospongia sp., collected in the Philippines. Structures were assigned on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies as well as analysis by HRESIMS. Compounds 1−4 inhibited PKCζ with IC50 values of 1.59, 0.53, 0.11, and 1.21 μM, respectively. In a cell-based assay, 1−4 also inhibited NF-κB activation with EC50 values of 12−64 μM.

Fibrosterol Sulfates from the Philippine Sponge Lissodendoryx (Acanthodoryx) fibrosa; Sterol Dimers that Inhibit PKCζ

Three new sulfated sterol dimers, fibrosterol sulfates A-C (1-3), have been isolated from the sponge Lissodendoryx (Acanthodoryx) fibrosa, collected in the Philippines. The structures were assigned on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies as well as analysis by HRESIMS. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited PKCzeta with IC(50) values of 16.4 and 5.6 microM, respectively.

Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Synthesis of Eudistomides A and B, Lipopeptides from a Fijian Ascidian Eudistoma sp.

Eudistomides A (1) and B (2), two new cyclic peptides, were isolated from a Fijian ascidian Eudistoma sp. These five-residue cystine-linked cyclic peptides are flanked by a C-terminal methyl ester and a 12-oxo- or 12-hydroxy-tetradecanoyl moiety. The complete structures of the eudistomides were determined using a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Chiral HPLC analysis revealed that all five amino acid residues in 1 and 2 had the L-configuration. Total synthesis of eudistomides A (1) and B (2) confirmed the proposed structures. Enantioselective lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of a mixture of C-35 acetoxy epimers indicated a 35R absolute configuration for 2.

Identification and evaluation of soft coral diterpenes as inhibitors of HIF-2α induced gene expression

Kidney cancer was the cause of almost 13,000 deaths in the United States in 2009. Loss of function of the VHL tumor suppressor gene (von Hippel-Lindau disease) dramatically increases the risk of developing clear cell kidney cancer. The VHL protein is best understood for its regulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). HIF responds to changes in oxygen levels in the cell and is responsible for mediating the transcriptional response to hypoxia. Of the three known HIFα gene products, HIF-2α appears to play a fundamental role in renal carcinoma. A high throughput screen was developed to identify small molecule inhibitors of HIF-2 gene expression. The screen was performed and yielded 153 confirmed active natural product extracts. Three of the active extracts were from marine soft corals of the order Alcyonacea: Sarcophyton sp., Lobophytum sarcophytoides and Asterospicularia laurae. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of two new cembrane diterpenes, (4Z,8S*,9R*,12E,14E)-9-hydroxy-1-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-8,12-dimethyl-oxabicyclo[9.3.2]-hexadeca-4,12,14-trien-18-one (1), and (1E,3E,7R*,8R*,11E)-1-(2-methoxypropan-2-yl)-4,8,12-trimethyloxabicyclo[12.1.0]-pentadeca-1,3,11-triene (7), as well as eight known compounds, 2-6 and 8-10.

Identification of Natural Products That Inhibit the Catalytic Function of Human Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase (TDP1):

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) is an enzyme crucial for cleavage of the covalent topoisomerase 1-DNA complex, an intermediate in DNA repair. TDP1 plays a role in reversing inhibition of topoisomerase I by camptothecins, a series of potent and effective inhibitors used in the treatment of colorectal, ovarian, and small-cell lung cancers. It is hypothesized that inhibition of TDP1 activity may enhance camptothecin sensitivity in tumors. Here, we describe the design, development, and execution of a novel assay to identify inhibitors of TDP1 present in natural product extracts. The assay was designed to address issues with fluorescent “nuisance” molecules and to minimize the detection of false-positives caused by polyphenolic molecules known to nonspecifically inhibit enzyme activity. A total of 227,905 purified molecules, prefractionated extracts, and crude natural product extracts were screened. This yielded 534 initial positives (0.23%). Secondary prioritization reduced this number to 117 (0.05% final hit rate). Several novel inhibitors have been identified showing micromolar affinity for human TDP1, including halenaquinol sulfate, a pentacyclic hydroquinone from the sponge Xestospongia sp.

Chapter 9:Advances in Instrumentation, Automation, Dereplication and Prefractionation

Many of the advances discussed in this chapter have been implemented to improve the quality of assay hits, shorten discovery timelines and increase the number of new chemical entities (NCEs); the number of NCEs recorded by the US Food and Drug Administrations Center for Drug Evaluation and Research...

Natural Product Screening

Natural product screening marries the search for new medicines with the search for new molecules from natural sources. The rationale for natural products as a source for new hits from which to develop new drugs will be discussed, and a brief overview of screening methods and techniques including how these are modified for the screening of crude natural product extracts will be described. This chapter will also provide a summary of the importance of natural products to drug discovery and development, the results from screening assays developed, and the natural products isolated utilizing these screens.