Biocontrol of Aspergillus species on peanut kernels by antifungal diketopiperazine producing Bacillus cereus associated with entomopathogenic nematode

The rhabditid entomopathogenic nematode associated Bacillus cereus and the antifungal compounds produced by this bacterium were evaluated for their activity in reducing postharvest decay of peanut kernels caused by Aspergillus species in in vitro and in vivo tests. The results showed that B. cereus had a significant effect on biocontrol effectiveness in in vitro and in vivo conditions. The antifungal compounds produced by the B. cereus were purified using silica gel column chromatography and their structure was elucidated using extensive spectral analyses. The compounds were identified as diketopiperazines (DKPs) [cyclo-(L-Pro-Gly), cyclo(L-Tyr-L-Tyr), cyclo-(L-Phe-Gly) and cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp)]. The antifungal activities of diketopiperazines were studied against five Aspergillus species and best MIC of 2 µg/ml was recorded against A. flavus by cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp). To investigate the potential application of cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp) to eliminate fungal spoilage in food and feed, peanut kernels was used as a food model system. White mycelia and dark/pale green spores of Aspergillus species were observed in the control peanut kernels after 2 days incubation. However the fungal growth was not observed in peanut kernels treated with cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp). The cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp) was nontoxic to two normal cell lines [fore skin (FS) normal fibroblast and African green monkey kidney (VERO)] up to 200 µg/ml in MTT assay. Thus the cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp) identified in this study may be a promising alternative to chemical preservatives as a potential biopreservative agent which prevent fungal growth in food and feed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the entomopathogenic nematode associated B. cereus and cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Trp) could be used as a biocontrol agents against postharvest fungal disease caused by Aspergillus species.

Brocazines A-F, Cytotoxic Bisthiodiketopiperazine Derivatives from Penicillium brocae MA-231, an Endophytic Fungus Derived from the Marine Mangrove Plant Avicennia marina

Six new disulfide-bridged diketopiperazine derivatives, brocazines A-F (1-6), along with one known analogue (7), were isolated and identified from the cytotoxic extract of Penicillium brocae MA-231, a fungus obtained from the fresh tissue of the marine mangrove plant Avicennia marina. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of detailed interpretation of NMR and mass spectroscopic data. X-ray crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure of 1 and established the structure and absolute configuration of 5, while the absolute configurations for compounds 1, 4, and 6 were deduced by comparison of the CD data with those of 5. Compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 showed cytotoxic activities against several tumor cell lines.

2,5-Diketopiperazines produced by Bacillus pumilus during bacteriolysis of Arthrobacter citreus

We report the detection by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses of the secreted 2,5-diketopiperazines (DKPs) cyclo(-Ala-Pro), cyclo(-Gly-Pro), cyclo(-Val-Pro), cyclo(-Ile-Pro), cyclo(-Leu-Pro), cyclo(-Pro-Pro), cyclo(-HyP-Pro), cyclo(-Met-Pro), and cyclo(-Phe-Pro) produced by Bacillus pumilus. The study focuses on a marine isolate and a laboratory test strain of B. pumilus with capabilities to lyse pregrown living cell lawns of different bacterial species, among them Arthrobacter citreus. Chromatographic methods were used to analyze induced bioactive compounds. At least 13 different DKPs are produced by B. pumilus. Both strains respond with an increased production of the DKPs cyclo(-Gly-Pro), cyclo(-Ala-Pro), and cyclo(-Val-Pro) to the presence of pasteurized A. citreus cells after 4 h in a nutrient-poor liquid medium. In agar diffusion assays, these DKPs did not cause lysis zones in living cell lawns, but they did inhibit further growth of several pregrown test bacteria in microplates even at concentrations as low as 1 μg ml(-1). Antibiotic substances produced by B. pumilus after 20 h of cultivation in a special lysis medium showed lytic activity in cell-free extracts of B. pumilus culture supernatants.

Caryophyllene sesquiterpenes from the marine-derived fungus Ascotricha sp. ZJ-M-5 by the one strain-many compounds strategy

The marine-derived fungus Ascotricha sp. ZJ-M-5, which can produce cyclonerodiol analogues, a 3,4-seco lanostane triterpenoid, and diketopiperazines in an eutrophic medium, was subjected to a one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) analysis. It was found to produce three new caryophyllene derivatives (1-3) and the known 1,3,6-trihydroxy-8-methylxanthone (4) in an oligotrophic medium, Czapek Dox broth with or without Mg(2+). (+)-6-O-Demethylpestalotiopsin A (1) and (+)-6-O-demethylpestalotiopsin C (2), which have a five-membered hemiacetal structural moiety, showed growth inhibitory effects against HL-60 and K562 leukemia cell lines with the lowest GI50 value of 6.9 ± 0.4 μM. It can be concluded that modification of the culture media is still effective in the discovery of novel bioactive fungal secondary metabolites.

Synthesis and bioactivity of diketopiperazine PJ147 and its derivatives from Gliocladium sp. YUP08

Concise total synthesis of diketopiperazine PJ147, obtained from mycelium of Gliocladium sp. YUP08, has been achieved in seven steps with 43.5% overall yield. Biological evaluation of PJ147 exhibited strong inhibiting activity against A375-S2, Hela, P388, A-549, HL-60, and BEL-7420 cell lines. Thus, eight derivatives of PJ147 with high water solubility were also synthesized to facilitate the in vivo bioassay of this kind of diketopiperazines.

An antibacterial metabolite from Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae F2

In searching for symbionts derived from bioactive natural products, six sulfureous diketopiperazines designated as lasiodiplines A-F (1-6) were characterized from the culture of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae F2, previously residing in the apparently normal flower of Illigera rhodantha (Hernandiaceae). Identification of structures was accomplished by a combination of spectroscopic and computational approaches, in conjunction with the low-temperature (100K) single-crystal X-ray diffraction with Cu Kα radiation. Lasiodipline E (5) was demonstrated to be antibacterial against the clinical strains Streptococcus sp., Bacteroides vulgates, Peptostreptococcus sp. and Veillonella parvula, respectively, with an minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of 0.12-0.25 μg/mL. In addition, compounds 4 and 6 exemplify two unusual architectures of natural cyclodipeptides, signifying the unique biochemical characteristics of the producing fungus.

Purification, structural elucidation and bioactivity of tryptophan containing diketopiperazines, from Comamonas testosteroni associated with a rhabditid entomopathogenic nematode against major human-pathogenic bacteria

The cell free culture filtrate of a Comamonas testosteroni associated with an Entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Rhabditis (Oscheius) sp. exhibited promising antimicrobial activity. The ethyl acetate extract of the bacterial culture filtrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain five diketopiperazines or cyclic dipeptides (DKP 1-5). The structure and absolute stereochemistry of the compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analyses (HR-MS, (1)HNMR, (13)CNMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, (1)H-(13)C HMBC) and Marfey's method. Based on the spectral data the compounds were identified as Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Pro) (1), Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Tyr) (2), Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Ile) (3), Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Leu) (4) and Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Phe) (5), respectively. Three diketopiperazines (DKP 2, 3 and 5) were active against all the ten bacteria tested. The highest activity of 0.5μg/ml by Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Phe) was recorded against Vibrio cholerae followed by Salmonella typhi (1 μg/ml) a human pathogen responsible for life threatening diseases like profuse watery diarrhea and typhoid or enteric fever. The activity of this compound against V. cholerae and S. typhi is more effective than ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, the standard antibiotics. Cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Phe) recorded significant antibacterial activity against all the test bacteria when compared to other compounds. Five diketopiperazines were active against all the test fungi and are more effective than bavistin the standard fungicide. Diketopiperazines recorded no cytotoxicity to FS normal fibroblast and VERO cells (African green monkey kidney) except DKP 3 and 4. To our best knowledge this is the first report of antimicrobial activity of the tryptophan containing diketopiperazines against the human pathogenic microbes. The production of cyclic dipeptides by C. testosteroni is also reported here for the first time. We conclude that the C. testosteroni is promising sources of natural bioactive secondary metabolites against human pathogenic bacteria which may receive great benefit in the field of human medicine in near future.

Prenylated indolediketopiperazine peroxides and related homologues from the marine sediment-derived fungus Penicillium brefeldianum SD-273

Three new indolediketopiperazine peroxides, namely, 24-hydroxyverruculogen (1), 26-hydroxyverruculogen (2), and 13-O-prenyl-26-hydroxyverruculogen (3), along with four known homologues (4-7), were isolated and identified from the culture extract of the marine sediment-derived fungus Penicillium brefeldianum SD-273. Their structures were determined based on the extensive spectroscopic analysis and compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute configuration of compounds 1-3 was determined using chiral HPLC analysis of their acidic hydrolysates. Each of the isolated compounds was evaluated for antibacterial and cytotoxic activity as well as brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality.

Antimycobacterial activity of cyclic dipeptides isolated from Bacillus sp. N strain associated with entomopathogenic nematode

CONTEXT

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality with a global mortality rate of two million deaths per year; one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the antimycobacterial activity of six diketopiperazines (DKPs) purified from a Bacillus sp. N strain associated with entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Oscheius) sp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of DKPs were determined using the broth dilution method on Middlebrook 7H11 against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv. Time-kill assay was used to determine the rate of killing of M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv by DKPs. The cytotoxicity of the DKPs was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay against the VERO cell line.

RESULTS

Out of six DKP-tested cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) and cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Phe) recorded antimycobacterial activity, the cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) showed the highest activity and MIC values of 4 μg/ml for M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv. The MIC value for rifampicin was 0.06 μg/ml. Growth curve study by the MIC concentration of cyclic dipeptides recorded significant inhibition when compared with control. Time-kill curve showed maximum reduction of colony count was between 3 and 5 weeks. The DKPs are nontoxic to the VERO cell line up to 200 µg/ml. The antimycobacterial activity of cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) and cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Phe) is reported in this study for the first time.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the potency, low cytotoxicity and selectivity of these compounds make them valid lead compounds for treatment against TB.

Three pairs of variecolortide enantiomers from Eurotium sp. with caspase-3 inhibitory activity

7-O-methylvariecolortide A (1), variecolortide B (2), and variecolortide C (3), the rare variecolortides existing in racemic manner, were isolated from an endolichenic fungal strain Eurotium sp. (No. 17-11-8-1). With the chiral HPLC technology, (-)-(S)-7-O-methylvariecolortide A (1a), (+)-(R)-7-O-methylvariecolortide A (1b), (-)-(S)-variecolortide B (2a), (+)-(R)-variecolortide B (2b), (-)-(S)-variecolortide C (3a), and (+)-(R)-variecolortide C (3b) were successfully separated and obtained. Their absolute configurations were firstly assigned by ECD experiment and ECD calculation. According to the relation of isolated compounds, a plausible biosynthetic pathway for variecolortides was proposed. In caspase-3 enzymatic assay, compounds 1-3 showed inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 1.7, 0.8 and 15.7 μM, respectively.

Leporizines A-C: epithiodiketopiperazines isolated from an Aspergillus species

Three new compounds named leporizines A-C have been isolated from an Aspergillus sp. strain. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Leporizines A and B were isolated during dereplication of hits from a high-throughput screening campaign for correctors of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and leporizine C was isolated while preparing additional material for characterization of leporizines A and B. CFTR activity observed for leporizines A and B was highly correlated with cell toxicity and was determined to be a nonspecific effect. Leporizine C was not cytotoxic to cells and did not elicit a response in the CFTR assays. To the best of our knowledge, leporizines A-C represent the first examples of this unusual epithiodiketopiperazine skeleton.

Purification of an antifungal compound, cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) for cereals produced by Bacillus cereus subsp. thuringiensis associated with entomopathogenic nematode

Mold spoilage is the main cause of substantial economic loss in cereals and might also cause public health problems due to the production of mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to separate and purify and to identify antifungal compounds of bacterium associated with novel entomopathogenic nematode and check the antifungal property of identified compound in particular food model systems. The antifungal compound was purified using silica gel column chromatography, TLC and HPLC and its structure was elucidated using NMR (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C HMBC), HRMS and Marfey's method. Based on the spectral data, the active compounds were identified as diketopiperazine [cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu)]. The antifungal activity of cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) was studied by MIC and paper disk assay against Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277 and Aspergillus niger MTCC 282 and best MIC value of 8μg/ml was recorded against A. flavus. Cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) strongly inhibit mycelia growth of fungus and thereby affecting aflatoxin production. To investigate the potential application of the cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) and to eliminate fungal spoilage in food and feed, soybean and peanut were used as models. White mycelia and dark/pale green spores of A. flavus were observed in the control soybeans after 2-day incubation. However the fungal growth was not observed in soybeans treated with cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu). Almost the same result was observed for peanuts treated with cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) for A. niger. The cyclo(l-Pro-d-Leu) was nontoxic to two normal human cell lines (FS normal fibroblast and L231 lung epithelial) up to 200μg/ml. Thus the diketopiperazine derivative identified in the study may be a promising alternative to chemical preservatives as a potential biopreservative which prevent fungal growth and mycotoxin formation in food and feed.

Secondary metabolites from the endophytic fungi Penicillium polonicum and Aspergillus fumigatus

Two new compounds, rhodostegone (1) from endophytic fungus Penicillium polonicum and cyclo-(l-Val-l-Leu) (2) from Aspergillus fumigatus, together with six known diketopiperazines (3-8), were isolated. The structures of these compounds were characterized through a combination of extensive IR, MS, NMR, and CD analysis.

Diketopiperazine derivatives from the marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. FXJ7.328

Five new diketopiperazine derivatives, (3Z,6E)-1-N-methyl-3-benzylidene-6-(2S-methyl-3-hydroxypropylidene)piperazine-2,5-dione (1), (3Z,6E)-1-N-methyl-3-benzylidene-6-(2R-methyl-3-hydroxypropylidene)piperazine-2,5-dione (2), (3Z,6Z)-3-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-6-isobutylidenepiperazine-2,5-dione (3), (3Z,6Z)-3-((1H-imidazol-5-yl)-methylene)-6-isobutylidenepiperazine-2,5-dione (4), and (3Z,6S)-3-benzylidene-6-(2S-but-2-yl)piperazine-2,5-dione (5), were isolated from the marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. FXJ7.328. The structures of 1–5 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, CD exciton chirality, the modified Mosher’s, Marfey’s and the C₃ Marfey’s methods. Compound 3 showed modest antivirus activity against influenza A (H1N1) virus with an IC₅₀ value of 41.5 ± 4.5 μM. In addition, compound 6 and 7 displayed potent anti-H1N1 activity with IC₅₀ value of 28.9 ± 2.2 and 6.8 ± 1.5 μM, respectively. Due to the lack of corresponding data in the literature, the ¹³C NMR data of (3Z,6S)-3-benzylidene-6-isobutylpiperazine-2,5-dione (6) were also reported here for the first time.

A new compound from liquid fermentation broth of Armillaria mellea and the determination of its absolute configuration

A new 2,5-diketopiperazine, (R)-2-(2-(furan-2-yl)-oxoethyl)-octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, and seven known compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of liquid fermentation broth of Armillaria mellea. The structures of the isolated compounds were established from NMR and HR-MS data. The absolute configuration of the new compound was established by comparing the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum with the calculated ECD data.

[Metabolites of Aspergillus fumigatus]

Aspergillus fumigatus, a type of endophytic fungi from Erthrophleum fordii, was fermented with GPY culture medium. Fermented liquid and mycelium were extracted from fermented products after freezing and thawing treatment. After alcohol extraction, mycelium was extracted with ethyl acetate and n-butyl alcohol, respectively. According to the results of cytotoxity of tumor cells, ethyl acetate extracts were studied for their chemical constituents. Five diketopiperazine compounds were separated and purified with silica gel, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, reversed-phase chromatographic column and preparative HPLC, their structures were identified as cyclo- (R-Pro-R-Phe) (1), cyclo- (trans-4-OH-D-Pro-D-Phe) (2), cyclo- (R-Tyr-S-Ile) (3), cyclo-(R-Phe-S-Ile) (4), and cyclo-(R-Val-S-Tyr) (5) by using spectral methods.

Protective effect of deferricoprogen isolated from Monascus purpureus NTU 568 on citrinin-induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells

Monascus species have traditionally been used in Asian food, with rice as their fermentation substrate. Red mold rice (RMR) contains citrinin, a nephrotoxic agent capable of exerting oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. We investigated the components in RMR that could minimize the adverse effects of citrinin. Combining chemical separations and bioactivity assays, we identified an antioxidative component called deferricoprogen (DFC) in the fermented rice of Monascus purpureus NTU 568. The DFC structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectra analysis. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging activity of DFC was similar to that of vitamin E. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometric analysis showed the effect of DFC and citrinin on cell viability and cell cycle. DFC was found to be protective against the cytotoxicity and cell death induced by citrinin on human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. DFC also demonstrated anti-apoptotic property in preventing citrinin-induced apoptosis.

Isolation and structural determination of the antifouling diketopiperazines from marine-derived Streptomyces praecox 291-11

Marine derived actinomycetes constituting 185 strains were screened for their antifouling activity against the marine seaweed, Ulva pertusa, and fouling diatom, Navicula annexa. Strain 291-11 isolated from the seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, rhizosphere showed the highest antifouling activity and was identified as Streptomyces praecox based on a 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Strain 291-11 was therefore named S. praecox 291-11. The antifouling compounds from S. praecox 291-11 were isolated, and their structures were analyzed. The chemical constituents representing the antifouling activity were identified as (6S,3S)-6-benzyl-3-methyl-2,5-diketopiperazine (bmDKP) and (6S,3S)-6-isobutyl-3-methyl-2,5-diketopiperazine (imDKP) by interpreting the nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectroscopy data. Approximately 4.8 mg of bmDKP and 3.1 mg of imDKP were isolated from 1.2 g of the S. praecox 291-11 crude extract. Eight different compositions of culture media were investigated for culture, the TBFeC medium being best for bmDKP and TCGC being the optimum for imDKP production. Two compounds respectively showed a 17.7 and 21 therapeutic ratio (LC50/EC50) to inhibit zoospores, and two compounds respectively showed a 263 and 120.2 therapeutic ratio to inhibit diatoms.

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.

The effects of diketopiperazines from Callyspongia sp. on release of cytokines and chemokines in cultured J774A.1 macrophages

Diketopiperazines (DKPs) are a class of secondary metabolites that result from peptide bonds between two amino acids to form a lactam. Due to their rigid structure, chiral nature, and varied side chains, DKPs have been of research interest for their diverse bioactivities. However, little is known about whether DPKs stimulate the release of cytokine and chemokines in macrophage cells. The present aim was to study the effect of DKPs firstly isolated from sponge Callyspongia sp. on the release of several cytokines in murine macrophage-like cell line J774A.1 after stimulation in vitro, and their potential structure-activity relationship of five natural DKPs on four representative cytokines, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), pro-inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor, TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-10, IL-10), and chemokine (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1). Results suggested that these five DKPs, especially DKP 1 bearing 3-hydroxyl-l-proline (l-Hyp), might be useful as a promising macrophage cytokines stimulator.

A bisamide and four diketopiperazines from a marine-derived Streptomyces sp

A new bisamide N₁-acetyl-N₇-phenylacetyl cadaverine (1) and a series of diketopiperazines including a new diketopiperazine cyclo(2-hydroxy-Pro-R-Leu) (2), together with a new natural product cyclo(4-hydroxy-S-Pro-S-Trp) (3) and two known leucine-based diketopiperazines cyclo(4-hydroxy-R-Pro-S-Leu) (4) and cyclo (S-Pro-R-Leu) (5), were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of a fermentation broth of a marine-derived Streptomyces sp. Their structures were elucidated by the interpretation of spectroscopic analysis. The antitumor activities of compounds 1-3 against HL-60 cell lines were tested by MTT assay.

Α-pyrones and diketopiperazine derivatives from the marine-derived actinomycete Nocardiopsis dassonvillei HR10-5

Three new α-pyrones, nocapyrones E-G (1-3), and three new diketopiperazine derivatives, nocazines A-C (4-6), together with a new oxazoline compound, nocazoline A (7), were isolated from the marine-derived actinomycete Nocardiopsis dassonvillei HR10-5. The new structures of 1-7 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, CD spectra, and modified Mosher and Marfey methods. Compounds 1-3 showed modest antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC values of 26, 14, and 12 μM, respectively.

Glionitrin B, a cancer invasion inhibitory diketopiperazine produced by microbial coculture

A new diketopiperazine, glionitrin B (1), was produced using a microbial coculture of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus KMC-901 and the bacterium Sphingomonas sp. KMK-001 that were isolated from acidic coal mine drainage. The structure of 1 was determined to be (3S,10aS)-dithiomethylglionitrin A. This structure was determined by the analyses of extensive NMR data and the circular dichroism spectra of the natural product and a semisynthetic compound derived from glionitrin A. In contrast to glionitrin A (2), glionitrin B (1) is not cytotoxic against the human prostate cancer cell line DU145. However, compound 1 caused suppression of DU145 cell invasion, producing 46% inhibition at 60 μM.

Itaconic acid derivatives and diketopiperazine from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus aculeatus CRI322-03

Three metabolites, pre-aurantiamine (1), (-)-9-hydroxyhexylitaconic acid (4) and (-)-9-hydroxyhexylitaconic acid-4-methyl ester (5), together with two known compounds, paraherquamide E (6) and secalonic acid D (7), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus aculeatus.

Protuboxepins A and B and protubonines A and B from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SF-5044

Two new oxepin-containing (1 and 2) and two diketopiperazine-type alkaloids (3 and 4) have been isolated from an EtOAc extract of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SF-5044. The structures of these metabolites were determined through analysis of NMR and MS data, along with Marfey's method. Compound 1 showed weak growth inhibitory activity against a small panel of cell lines.