Michio Namikoshi

Leucettamol A : A new inhibitor of Ubc13-Uev1A interaction isolated from a marine sponge, Leucetta aff. microrhaphis

A compound that inhibits the formation of a complex composed of the ubiquitin E2 enzyme Ubc13 and Uev1A was isolated from the marine sponge Leucetta aff. microrhaphis. The compound was identified as leucettamol A (1) by spectroscopic analysis. Its inhibition of Ubc13-Uev1A interaction was tested by the ELISA method, revealing an IC(50) value of 50 microg/mL. The compound is the first inhibitor of Ubc13-Uev1A interaction, that is, that of the E2 activity of Ubc13. Such inhibitors are presumed to be leads for anti-cancer agents that upregulate activity of the tumor suppressor p53 protein. Interestingly, hydrogenation of 1 increased its inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 4 microg/mL, while its tetraacetate derivative was inactive, indicating that the hydroxy and/or amino groups of 1 are required for the inhibition.

Structure Revision of Circumdatins A and B, Benzodiazepine Alkaloids Produced by Marine Fungus Aspergillus ostianus, by X-ray Crystallography

The structures of circumdatins A and B, pentacyclic alkaloids produced by Aspergillus ostianus, were revised from the previously reported betaine structures to unique oxepin ones by X-ray crystallography. The co-occurring known alkaloids, circumdatins D, E, and H, and a new compound reported here, circumdatin J, have a common framework.

Hyrtioreticulins A-E, indole alkaloids inhibiting the ubiquitin-activating enzyme, from the marine sponge Hyrtios reticulatus.

Hyrtioreticulins A-E (1-5) were isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios reticulatus, along with a known alkaloid, hyrtioerectine B (6). Structural elucidation on the basis of spectral data showed that 1, 2, and 5 are new tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids, while 3 and 4 are new azepinoindole-type alkaloids. Hyrtioreticulins A and B (1 and 2) inhibited ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) with IC(50) values of 0.75 and 11μg/mL, respectively, measured by their inhibitory abilities against the formation of an E1-ubiquitin intermediate. So far, only five E1 inhibitors, panapophenanthrine, himeic acid A, largazole, and hyrtioreticulins A and B (1 and 2), have been isolated from natural sources and, among them, 1 is the most potent E1 inhibitor.

Verruculides A and B, two new protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors from an Indonesian ascidian-derived Penicillium verruculosum.

Two new merosesquiterpenes, verruculides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from a culture broth of the Indonesian ascidian-derived Penicillium verruculosum TPU1311, together with three known congeners, chrodrimanins A (3), B (4), and H (5). The structures of 1 and 2 were assigned on the basis of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, UV, CD, and IR). Compound 2 had a linear sesquiterpene moiety and was considered to be the derivative of the biosynthetic precursor for 1 and 3-5. Compounds 1, 3, and 5 inhibited the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 values of 8.4, 8.5, and 14.9 μM, respectively. Compound 2 showed 40% inhibition at 23.1 μM, while 4 was not active at 20.7 μM.

Four new macrocyclic trichothecenes from two strains of marine-derived fungi of the genus Myrothecium

Three new macrocyclic trichothecenes, named 12′-hydroxyroridin E (1), roridin Q (2), and 2′,3′-deoxyroritoxin D (3), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Myrothecium roridum TUF 98F42, and a new macrocyclic trichothecene, named roridin R (4), was isolated from Myrothecium sp. TUF 02F6 together with roridins A and H and isororidin E. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of their spectral data. Compound 2 possessed a unique ether moiety at the 13′ position of 1. Compound 4 was a 2′,3′-dihydro-2′-hydroxy derivative of roridin H. The IC50 values of compounds 1, 2, and 4 against the murine leukemia cell line L1210 were 0.19, 31.2, and 0.45 μM, respectively. Compound 3 showed antiyeast activity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 1 μg/disc (inhibition zone: 12.2 mm), which was about 10 time more active than roritoxin D (10.2 mm at 10 μg/disc).

Tetrahydrobostrycin and 1-Deoxytetrahydrobostrycin, Two New Hexahydroanthrone Derivatives, from a Marine-derived Fungus Aspergillus sp.

Two new hexahydroanthrones, tetrahydrobostrycin (1) and 1-deoxytetrahydrobostrycin (2), were isolated from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. strain 05F16 collected at the coral reef of Manado, Indonesia, together with bostrycin and abscisic acid. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of their spectral data. Compound 1 showed weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and 2 against S. aureus.

Structures and Biological Evaluations of Agelasines Isolated from the Okinawan Marine Sponge Agelas nakamurai.

Three new N-methyladenine-containing diterpenes, 2-oxoagelasines A (1) and F (2) and 10-hydro-9-hydroxyagelasine F (3), were isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Agelas nakamurai Hoshino together with eight known agelasine derivatives, 2-oxoagelasine B (4), agelasines A (5), B (6), D (7), E (8), F (9), and G (10), and ageline B (11). The structures of 1-3 were assigned on the basis of their spectroscopic data and their comparison with those of the literature. Compounds 3 and 5-11 inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis with inhibition zones of 10, 14, 15, 18, 14, 20, 12, and 12 mm at 20 μg/disc, respectively. All compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 μM) against Huh-7 (hepatoma) and EJ-1 (bladder carcinoma) human cancer cell lines. Three 2-oxo derivatives (1, 2, and 4) exhibited markedly reduced biological activity against M. smegmatis. Moreover, compound 10 inhibited protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity with an IC50 value of 15 μM.

Euryspongins A-C, three new unique sesquiterpenes from a marine sponge Euryspongia sp.

Three new unique sesquiterpenes, euryspongins A-C (1-3), were isolated from a marine sponge Euryspongia sp. collected at Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. Compound 1 possessed a bicyclic furanosesquiterpene structure with six- and eight-membered rings, whereas compounds 2 and 3 had an α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone ring instead of the furan ring in 1. Only five natural products in this class have been reported, and compounds 1-3 are the sixth-eighth examples of natural products. Compounds 1-3 had no inhibition effect against PTP1B, an important target enzyme for the treatment of diabetes, while the dehydro derivative of 1 [dehydroeuryspongin A (4)] exhibited inhibitory activity (IC(50)=3.6 μM).

Two new protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors, hyattellactones A and B, from the Indonesian marine sponge Hyattella sp.

Two unique sesterterpenes, hyattellactones A (1) and B (2), together with two known sesterterpenes, phyllofolactones F (3) and G (4), were isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Hyattella sp. The structures of the two new compounds, 1 and 2 were assigned based on their spectroscopic data. Hyattellactone A (1) was a scalarane sesterterpene with an α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone ring and C-ethyl group, while B (2) was an epimer of 1 at the C-24 position. Compounds 1 and 3 inhibited PTP1B activity with IC50 values of 7.45 and 7.47μM, respectively. On the other hand, compounds 2 and 4 (24S-isomers of 1 and 3, respectively) showed much reduced activity than the 24R-isomers.

Strongylophorines, new protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors, from the marine sponge Strongylophora strongilata collected at Iriomote Island.

A new meroditerpene, 26-O-ethylstrongylophorine-14 (1), was isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Strongylophora strongilata together with six known strongylophorines: 26-O-methylstrongylophorine-16 (2) and strongylophorines-2 (3), -3 (4), -8 (5), -15 (6), and -17 (7). The structure of 1 was assigned on the basis of its spectroscopic data. Compound 1 inhibited the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with an IC50 value of 8.7 μM, while known compounds 2-8 gave IC50 values of 8.5, >24.4, 9.0, 21.2, 11.9, and 14.8 μM, respectively. Oleanolic acid, a positive control, inhibited PTP1B activity at 0.7 μM (IC50). The inhibitory activities of strongylophorines possessing the acetal moiety at C-26 (1, 2, and 6) were stronger than those of the lactone derivatives (3 and 5). This is the first study to demonstrate that meroditerpenes inhibit PTP1B activity.