Tatsuo Nehira

Stereochemical Investigations of Isochromenones and Isobenzofuranones Isolated from Leptosphaeria sp. KTC 727

Two new metabolites, (R)-3,4-dihydro-4,6,8-trihydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-3-methyleneisochromen-1-one (1) and (R)-7-hydroxy-3-((S)-1-hydroxyethyl)-5-methoxy-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (2), were isolated along with two structurally known related compounds (3 and 4) from the culture broth of Leptosphaeria sp. KTC 727 (JCM 13076 = MAFF 239586). These structures were disclosed mainly with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic analyses. The relative configuration of 2 was established by NOE studies. The absolute configuration of this molecule was determined by a combination of the modified Moshers method and CD spectra after derivatizations. The theoretical CD profiles also supported these assignments. Structural correlations enabled us to establish the absolute configurations of metabolites 1, 3, and 4, in which configurations of the latter two had not been established. Compound 2 exhibited the strongest antifungal activity among them, inhibiting the hyphal growth of Cochliobolus miyabeanus at about 0.5 μg/mL.

Taichunamides: Prenylated Indole Alkaloids from Aspergillus taichungensis (IBT 19404).

Seven new prenylated indole alkaloids, taichunamides A-G, were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus taichungensis (IBT 19404). Taichunamides A and B contained an azetidine and 4-pyridone units, respectively, and are likely biosynthesized from notoamide S via (+)-6-epi-stephacidin A. Taichunamides C and D contain endoperoxide and methylsulfonyl units, respectively. This fungus produced indole alkaloids containing an anti-bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core, whereas A. protuberus and A. amoenus produced congeners with a syn-bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core. Plausible biosynthetic pathways to access these cores within the three species likely arise from an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction.

Acanthomanzamines A–E with New Manzamine Frameworks from the Marine Sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens

Five new manzamine alkaloids, acanthomanzamines A-E, were isolated from the marine sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens. Acanthomanzamines A and B are the first examples, containing a tetrahydroisoquinoline instead of a β-carboline in manzamine-related alkaloids. Acanthomanzamine C contains a hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrol-4(2H)-one ring that may be converted from an eight-membered ring in manzamine A. Acanthomanzamines D and E have an additional oxazolidine and 2-methyloxazolidine rings, respectively, which fuse to the manzamine skeleton.

Roussoellols A and B, tetracyclic fusicoccanes from Roussoella hysterioides.

The structures of the tetracyclic fusicoccanes roussoellols A (1) and B (2) from Roussoella hysterioides KT1651 are described. NMR spectroscopic analyses involving NOESY experiments revealed that these molecules possessed unique bent structures that were supported by chemical derivatizations as well as chemical shift comparisons with theoretical shifts based on the density functional theory (DFT) at the EDF2/6-31G* level. Absolute configurations were established by the ECD couplet of positive chirality in both 1 and 2 at vacuum UV (VUV) region, which were further confirmed by successful reproduction of VUVCD spectra using theoretical calculations.

Development of a universal ellipsoidal mirror device for fluorescence detected circular dichroism: elimination of polarization artifacts.

We have developed an ellipsoidal mirror fluorescence detected circular dichroism (FDCD) device with enhanced detection sensitivity that eliminates the polarization artifact; this is applicable to samples with strongly polarized fluorescence. The device, JASCO FDCD465, has an ellipsoidal mirror structure with a framework consisting of three mirrors (one elliptical and two plane mirrors) that maximally collects light in the FDCD. All assemblies on the device including the ellipsoidal mirror, cylindrical cell, and photomultiplier tube (PMT) are aligned on the chamber-fitting sample mount as an attachment compatible with a standard CD spectropolarimeter. The new FDCD465 device eliminates the polarization artifact caused by anisotropic distribution of the emitted light. It represents a convenient, reliable, and sensitive FDCD attachment to the JASCO J-800 CD spectrometer series that can be used under both isotropic and photoselected conditions.

Computation-Assisted Structural Elucidation of Epoxyroussoeone and Epoxyroussoedione Isolated from Roussoella japanensis KT1651

The structures of epoxyroussoenone (1) and epoxyroussoedione (3) isolated from a culture broth of Roussoella japanensis KT1651 were determined. Although NMR spectra provided insufficient structural information, computation of the theoretical chemical shifts with DFT EDF2/6-31G* enabled us to elucidate not only the planar structure, but also the relative configuration. Their ECD (electric circular dichroism) spectra suggested the absolute configurations, which were confirmed with time-dependent DFT calculations employing BHandHLYP/TZVP. The ECD calculations for other stereoisomers yielded obviously different spectral profiles, thus confirming the relative structures of 1 and 3.

Absolute Stereochemistry of Novel Isochromanone Derivatives from Leptosphaeria sp. KTC 727

A novel isochromanone, (S)-8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4,5-dimethyl-3-methylene-isochromen-1-one (1), known 2 and previously reported metabolites from Leptosphaeria sp. KTC 727 (JCM 13076 = MAFF 239586) were isolated from the same source by culturing for a relatively long period. The results of the present study disclose their structures involving the absolute stereochemistry. The planar structures of these molecules were established by ESIMS and NMR spectral analyses. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by comparing its electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum with that of structurally-related known compound 3. The relative stereochemistry of 2 was revealed by a combination of nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments and thermodynamic discussions. Successful transformation of 1 to 2 led us to assign the configuration of 2 after comparing their ECD spectra. These compounds exhibited weak antifungal activities against Cochliobolus miyabeanus.

Effects of sex steroid hormones and their metabolites on neuronal injury caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures.

In this study, protective actions of the sex steroid hormones, progesterone, testosterone, and 17β-estradiol, against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)/reoxygenation-induced neuronal cell death were examined using rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Progesterone, testosterone, and 17β-estradiol significantly attenuated neuronal cell death elicited by OGD/reoxygenation. While the neuroprotection conferred by progesterone was not affected by SU-10603, an inhibitor of cytochrome P45017α, finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone, partially reversed the neuroprotection induced by progesterone. The progesterone metabolite, allopregnanolone attenuated neuronal injury induced by OGD/reoxygenation. Pretreatment with letrozole, a cytochrome P450 aromatase inhibitor or 4-hydroxyphenyl-1-naphthol, a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 inhibitor showed no effect on testosterone-mediated neuroprotection, while finasteride completely abolished the protective action of testosterone. Treatment with 5α-dihydrotestosterone significantly suppressed neuronal injury. Pretreatment with mifepristone, a progesterone receptor antagonist and hydroxyflutamid, an androgen receptor antagonist significantly diminished the neuroprotective effects of progesterone and testosterone, respectively. ICI182,780, an estrogen receptor antagonist, showed no effect on neuroprotection mediated by 17β-estradiol. Pretreatment with actinomycin D or cycloheximide clearly abolished the neuroprotective effects of progesterone and testosterone, while actinomycin D and cycloheximide did not show any effect on neuroprotection mediated by 17β-estradiol. Taken together, progesterone protects neurons via progesterone receptor-dependent genomic pathway, and allopregnanolone is involved in progesterone-mediated neuroprotection. Testosterone and its metabolite 5α-dihydrotestosterone protect neurons via the genomic pathway of the androgen receptor. Metabolism of sex steroid hormones in the brain might complicate their protective actions in the brain.

Cassane diterpenoids from the roots of Caesalpinia decapetala var. japonica and structure revision of caesaljapin.

Two cassane-type furanoditerpenoids, designated caesalacetal and caesalpinetate, and a norditerpenoid designated caesalpinone were isolated from the roots of Caesalpinia decapetala var. japonica along with seven known diterpenoids. Structures were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data, and the absolute structure of caesalacetal was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Furthermore, the structure of a previously reported furanoditerpenoid, caesaljapin, was revised as its C-4 epimer on the basis of detailed NMR spectroscopic data as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Cytotoxity of non-alkaloidal taxane diterpenes from Taxus chinensis against a paclitaxel-resistant cell line

Seven taxane diterpenes were isolated from the EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Taxus chinensis, and evaluated for cytotoxicity against nine human cell lines, including a beta-tublin mutant resistant to paclitaxel. Compound 2, a non-alkaloid-type taxane diterpene, showed significant cytotoxicity in most cell lines, and notably, equipotent against both parental and beta-tublin mutant tumor cell lines.