Qianqun Gu

Cytotoxic Alkaloids and Antibiotic Nordammarane Triterpenoids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sydowi

Three new diketopiperazine alkaloids, 6-methoxyspirotryprostatin B (1), 18-oxotryprostatin A (2), and 14-hydroxyterezine D (3), with an oxaspiro[4.4]lactam moiety, 14-norpseurotin A (4), and the 29-nordammarane triterpenoid 6beta,16beta-diacetoxy-25-hydroxy-3,7-dioxy-29-nordammara-1,17(20)-dien-21-oic acid (5), as well as 12 known compounds (6- 17), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a marine-derived fungal strain, Aspergillus sydowi PFW1-13. The structures of compounds 1- 5 were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1- 3 exhibit weak cytotoxicity against A-549 cells, with IC 50 values of 8.29, 1.28, and 7.31 microM, respectively. Compound 1 also shows slight cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells, with an IC 50 value of 9.71 microM. Compounds 4 and 5 display significant antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Micrococcus lysoleikticus with MICs of 3.74, 14.97, and 7.49 microM and 10.65, 5.33, and 10.65 microM, respectively.

Citrinin Dimers from the Halotolerant Fungus Penicillium citrinum B-57

In order to search for structurally novel and bioactive natural compounds from microorganisms, a halotolerant fungal strain, Penicillium citrinum B-57, which mainly produces citrinin derivatives, was isolated from sediments collected from the Jilantai salt field. From the ethyl acetate extract of P. citrinum B-57, two new citrinin dimers, pennicitrinone C ( 1) and penicitrinol B ( 2), and 11 known related compounds were isolated and identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods. These compounds showed antioxidative activity against DPPH radicals with IC 50 values ranging from 0.8 to 59 microM.

Alkaloids from a deep ocean sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp. and their antitumor activities.

Four new alkaloids, including two new meleagrin analogs, meleagrin D (1) and E (2), and two new diketopiperazines, roquefortine H (3) and I (4), were isolated from a deep ocean sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp. Meleagrin D (1) and E (2) possess unprecedented acetate–mevalonate-derived side chains on the imidazole moiety. These new meleagrins showed weak cytotoxicity against the A-549 cell line, whereas meleagrin B (5) and meleagrin (6), which were isolated previously from the same strain, induced HL-60 cell apoptosis or arrested the cell cycle through G2/M phase, respectively. The results indicate that the distinct substitutions on the imidazole ring significantly influence the cytotoxicity of the meleagrin alkaloids.

Potent in vitro anticancer activity of metacycloprodigiosin and undecylprodigiosin from a sponge-derived actinomycete Saccharopolyspora sp. nov.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of CHCI3 extract from the fermentation broth of a spongeMycale plumose-derived actinomyceteSaccharopolyspora sp. nov., led to the isolation of two known prodigiosin analogs - metacycloprodigiosin (1) and undecylprodigiosin (2). These compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against five cancer cell lines: P388, HL60, A-549, BEL-7402, and SPCA4. This is the first report on the significant cytotoxicity of metacycloprodigiosin (1 ) against human cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic Polyketides from a Marine-derived Fungus Aspergillus glaucus

Eight new aromatic polyketides (2, 4-6, 8, 14, 16, and 17) together with eight known analogues (3, 7, 9-13, and 15) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus glaucus. The structures and stereochemistry of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods, and their cytotoxicities were evaluated against the HL-60 and A-549 cell lines.

Antiviral isoindolone derivatives from an endophytic fungus Emericella sp. associated with Aegiceras corniculatum.

Chemical investigation of the endophytic fungus Emericella sp. (HK-ZJ) isolated from the mangrove plant Aegiceras corniculatum led to isolation of six isoindolones derivatives termed as emerimidine A and B and emeriphenolicins A and D, and six previously reported compounds named aspernidine A and B, austin, austinol, dehydroaustin, and acetoxydehydroaustin, respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic evidence while the anti-influenza A viral (H₁N₁) activities of eight compounds were also evaluated using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay.

Gentisyl alcohol derivatives from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium terrestre.

Nine new gentisyl alcohol derivatives, namely, the trimeric terrestrol A (8), dimeric terrestrols B-H (1-7), and a monomeric derivative (12), together with four known analogues (9-11, 13) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium terrestre. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one- and two-dimensional NMR as well as low- and high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis. These new compounds (1-8, 12) showed cytotoxic effects on HL-60, MOLT-4, BEL-7402, and A-549 cell lines with IC50 values in the range 5-65 microM. Compound 6 also showed moderate inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine kinases (Src and KDR). Furthermore, all new compounds exhibited moderate radical scavenging activity against DPPH with IC50 values in the range 2.6-8.5 microM.

Cytotoxic Metabolites from the Antarctic Psychrophilic Fungus Oidiodendron truncatum

Two new epipolythiodioxopiperazines, named chetracins B and C (1 and 2), and five new diketopiperazines, named chetracin D (4) and oidioperazines A-D (5, 10, 12, and 13), were isolated from the fungus Oidiodendron truncatum GW3-13, along with six known compounds (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11). Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR, MS, and CD analyses, as well as chemical transformation. An in vitro MTT cytotoxicity assay revealed potent biological activity for 1 in the nanomolar range against a panel of five human cancer lines.

Novel open-chain cytochalsins from the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans.

Six novel open-chain cytochalasins (1-6) and one known [12]-cytochalasin (7) have been isolated from the fermentation broth of a marine-derived fungus, Spicaria elegans. Cytochalasins Z10-Z15 (1-6) are the first reported cytochalasins that contain an open chain to date. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic effects on P388, A-549, HL-60, and BEL-7402 cell lines of all compounds were evaluated by the MTT method.

Antiviral alkaloids produced by the mangrove-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. PJX-41.

Six new indole alkaloids including five new glyantrypine derivatives (1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4) and a new pyrazinoquinazoline derivative (5), together with eight known alkaloids (6-13), were isolated from the culture of the mangrove-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. PJX-41. Their structures were elucidated primarily by spectroscopic and physical data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-9 were established on the basis of CD, NOESY data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 2b, 5, 7-9, and 11 exhibited significant activities against influenza virus A (H1N1), with IC50 values of 82-89 μM.