Microginins from a Microcystis sp. Bloom Material Collected from the Kishon Reservoir, Israel

During blooms, cyanobacteria produce diverse modified peptides. Among these are the microginins, which inhibit zinc-containing metalloproteases. Ten microginins, microginins KR767 (1), KR801(2), KR835 (3), KR785 (4), KR604 (5), KR638 (6), KR781 (7), KR815 (8), FR3 (9), and FR4 (10), were isolated from the extract of a bloom material of Microcystis sp. (IL-405) collected from the Kishon Reservoir, Israel in the fall of 2009. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR techniques and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the chiral centers of the amino acids were determined by Marfey’s and advance Marfey’s methods and by comparison of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the Ahda derivatives with those of known microginins. These microginins differ in sequence and absolute configuration of the chiral centers of the Ahda moieties and by N-methylation of the Ahda amine group and extent of chlorination of the Ahda terminal methyl group. The compounds were evaluated for inhibition of the zinc metalloprotease, aminopeptidase M, and exhibited low- to sub-nanomolar half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values

Metabolites from <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> Bloom Material Collected at a Water Reservoir near Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, Israel

An aqueous MeOH extract of <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> (IL-399) afforded three new protease inhibitors, micropeptin HH978 (<b>1</b>), micropeptin HH960 (<b>2</b>), and micropeptin HH992 (<b>3</b>), as well as the known aeruginosin GH553 and microguanidine AL772. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR techniques, as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configurations of <b>1</b>–<b>3</b> were determined using Marfey’s method for amino acid and chiral-phase HPLC for hydroxy acids. The inhibitory activity of the compounds was determined for the serine proteases trypsin, thrombin, elastase, and chymotrypsin. The structure elucidation and biological activities of the new natural products are discussed

Sensitivity of Neurospora crassa to a Marine-Derived Aspergillus tubingensis Anhydride Exhibiting Antifungal Activity That Is Mediated by the MAS1 Protein

The fungus Aspergillus tubingensis (strain OY907) was isolated from the Mediterranean marine sponge Ircinia variabilis. Extracellular extracts produced by this strain were found to inhibit the growth of several fungi. Among the secreted extract components, a novel anhydride metabolite, tubingenoic anhydride A (1) as well as the known 2-carboxymethyl-3-hexylmaleic acid anhydride, asperic acid, and campyrone A and C were purified and their structure elucidated. Compound 1 and 2-carboxymethyl-3-hexylmaleic acid anhydride inhibited Neurospora crassa growth (MIC = 330 and 207 μM, respectively) and affected hyphal morphology. We produced a N. crassa mutant exhibiting tolerance to 1 and found that a yet-uncharacterized gene, designated mas-1, whose product is a cytosolic protein, confers sensitivity to this compound. The ∆mas-1 strain showed increased tolerance to sublethal concentrations of the chitin synthase inhibitor polyoxin D, when compared to the wild type. In addition, the expression of chitin synthase genes was highly elevated in the ∆mas-1 strain, suggesting the gene product is involved in cell wall biosynthesis and the novel anhydride interferes with its function