Isolation and structure elucidation of 34-sulfatobastadin 13, an inhibitor of the endothelin A receptor, from a marine sponge of the genus Ianthella

Isolation of bastadin-6-O-sulfate and expedient purifications of bastadins-4, -5 and -6 from extracts of Ianthella basta

Bastadin-6-34-O-sulfate ester (8) was isolated from methanol extracts of Ianthella basta. The structure of 8 was characterized by analysis of MS and NMR data, and conversion through acid hydrolysis, to the parent compound, bastadin-6, which was identical by HPLC, MS and NMR with an authentic sample. An improved procedure for procurement of pure samples of bastadins-4 (4), -5 (5) and -6 (6) is described.

Macrocyclic Inhibitors of GPCR's, Integrins and Protein–Protein Interactions

This chapter summarizes some highlights of macrocyclic drug discovery in the area of GPCRs, integrins, and protein–protein interactions spanning roughly the last 30 years. Several examples demonstrate that incorporation of pharmacophores derived from natural peptide ligands into the context of a constrained macrocycle (“lock of the bioactive conformation”) has proven a powerful approach for the discovery of potent and selective macrocyclic drugs. In addition, it will be shown that macrocycles, due to their semi-rigid nature, can exhibit unique properties that can be beneficially exploited by medicinal chemists. Macrocycles can adapt their conformation during binding to a flexible protein target surface (“induced fit”), and due to their size, can interact with larger protein interfaces (“hot spots”). Also, macrocycles can display favorable ADME properties well beyond the rule of 5 in particular exhibiting favorable cell penetrating properties and oral bioavailability.

Indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles from a deep-water sponge of the genus Asteropus

Two new indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles (1, 2) were isolated from a deep-water collection of a sponge of the genus Asteropus. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined through the analysis of spectroscopic data including mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR. Compound 1 showed minimum inhibitory concentrations of 25 μg/mL against the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and 50 μg/mL against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Compounds 1 and 2 showed no cytotoxicity against the PANC1 human pancreatic carcinoma and NCI/ADR-RES ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines at our standard test concentration of 5 μg/mL.

Variabines A and B: new β-carboline alkaloids from the marine sponge Luffariella variabilis

Two new β-carboline alkaloids, variabines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Luffariella variabilis. Their structures were elucidated from spectral data, and 1 was found to be a sulfonated derivative of 2. Although numerous β-carboline alkaloids have been isolated from natural sources to date, 1 is the first β-carboline derivative containing a sulfate group. Compound 2 inhibited chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome and Ubc13 (E2)-Uev1A interaction with IC50 values of 4 and 5 μg/mL, respectively, whereas 1 had little effect on the activity or interaction.

Trimeric hemibastadin congener from the marine sponge Ianthella basta

The first naturally occurring trimeric hemibastadin congener, sesquibastadin 1 (1), and the previously reported bastadins 3, 6, 7, 11, and 16 (2-6) were isolated from the marine sponge Ianthella basta, collected in Indonesia. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR measurements and by HRMS. Among all the isolated compounds, the linear sesquibastadin 1 (1) and bastadin 3 (2) showed the strongest inhibition rates for at least 22 protein kinases (IC(50) = 0.1-6.5 μM), while the macrocyclic bastadins (3-6) demonstrated a strong cytotoxic potential against the murine lymphoma cell line L5178Y (IC(50) = 1.5-5.3 μM).

A bastadin with potent and selective delta-opioid receptor binding affinity from the Australian sponge Ianthella flabelliformis

Three new bastadins, bastadin 25 (1), 15-O-sulfonatobastadin 11 (2), and bastadin 26 (3), were isolated from a MeOH extract of the Australian marine sponge Ianthella flabelliformis. Their structures were determined by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and mass spectrometry. Bastadin 26 (3) showed potent affinity for the guinea pig delta-opioid receptors with a K(i) value of 100 nM. The other two bastadins had a 100-fold lower affinity. The three compounds were also tested for their affinity to guinea pig micro- and kappa-opioid receptors and shown to have either no affinity or only very weak affinity toward both of these opioid receptors.

Halichondria sulfonic acid, a new HIV-1 inhibitory guanidino-sulfonic acid, and halistanol sulfate isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria rugosa Ridley & Dendy

A new sulfur-containing guanidino derivative, halichondria sulfonic acid (1) showing anti-HIV-1 activity, and halistanol trisulfate (2) with anti-tumor activity have been isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria rugosa Ridley & Dendy collected in the Chinese Southern Sea. The structure of 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic and crystal data.

Simplified cyclic analogues of bastadin-5. Structure-activity relationships for modulation of the RyR1/FKBP12 Ca2+ channel complex

Bastadin-5, a brominated macro-dilactam from the marine sponge Ianthella basta, enhances release of Ca2+ from stores within the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of muscle and nonmuscle cells by modulating RyR1/FKBP12 complex. Analogues of bastadin-5 present desirable targets for SAR studies to shed light on the gating mechanism and locus of bastadin-5 binding on these heteromeric channels that mediate essential steps in early coupling of membrane excitation to Ca2+ signaling cascades. Simple, ring-constrained analogues of bastadin-5 were synthesized from substituted benzaldehydes in a convergent manner, featuring an efficient S(N)Ar macroetherification, and evaluated in an assay that measures [3H]-ryanodine that is known to correlate with the functional open state of the Ca2+ channel. The simplified 14-membered ring, atropisomeric analogue (+/-)-7, like bastadin-5, enhanced ryanodine binding to the RyR1/FKBP12 complex (EC50 11 microM), however, unexpectedly, the corresponding achiral 18-membered ring analogue 14 potently inhibited binding (IC50 6 microM) under the same conditions. Structure-activity relationships of both families of cyclic analogues showed activity in a ryanodine binding assay that varied with substitutions of the Br atom on the trisubstituted aryl ring by various functional groups. The most active analogues were those that conserved the dibromocatechol ether moiety that corresponds to the 'western edge' of the bastadin-5 structure. These data suggest that cyclic analogues of bastadin-5 interact with the channel complex in a complex manner that can either enhance or inhibit channel activity.

A general method for the synthesis of bastaranes and isobastaranes: first total synthesis of bastadins 5, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 21

A general strategy for the synthesis of twenty naturally occurring bastadins (all but bastadin 3) is presented. A key retrosynthetic disconnection of the two amide bonds, common in all target molecules, bisects the macrocyclic core into two diaryl ether fragments, an alpha,omega-diamine (western part) and an alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acid (eastern part). Efficient preparation of the synthetically challenging o-mono or dibromo-substituted diaryl ether linkages was achieved employing the diaryl iodonium salt method. Regarding the western part, variations of the aliphatic chain were more efficiently secured by the preparation of two different alpha,omega-aminonitrile moieties. Cobalt boride mediated reduction of the nitrile functionality established the required diamines and, at the same time, provided the necessary variation of the aromatic-ring bromination pattern. Regarding the eastern part, two different dicarboxyl precursors had to be prepared in order to accommodate bromination-pattern variations. Coupling and subsequent macrolactamization of different combinations of these key intermediates may lead at will to any member of this family of marine natural products. Four bastaranes (bastadins 5, 10, 12 and 16) and two isobastaranes (bastadins 20 and 21) were synthesized as a demonstration of the flexibility and efficiency of the approach presented.

New anticancer bastadin alkaloids from the sponge Dendrilla cactos

Two new bastadin alkaloids, bastadins-22 (1) and 23 (2), together with six known bastadins, bastadins-6 (3), -12 (4) (formerly basatadin-9), -14 (5), -15 (6), -16 (7), -19 (8), and a common steroid cholesterol were isolated from the sponge Dendrilla cactos. The structures of the isolates were established by the study of extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR and MS data). Anticancer activity of the isolates has been carried out against Sup-T(1) cancer cells (T cell lymphoma).

Isolation of psammaplin A 11'-sulfate and bisaprasin 11'-sulfate from the marine sponge Aplysinella rhax

Psammaplin A 11'-sulfate (3) and bisaprasin 11'-sulfate (4) have been isolated from the marine sponge Aplysinella rhax, along with the known psammaplin A (1). Their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 3 inhibited [(3)H]1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine binding to rat-brain adenosine A(1) receptors.

Bastadin 20 and bastadin O-sulfate esters from Ianthella basta: novel modulators of the Ry1R FKBP12 receptor complex

New compounds bastadin 20 (9), 15,34-O-disulfatobastadin 7 (10), and 10-O-sulfatobastadin 3 (11) were isolated from Ianthella basta collected in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. Compounds 10 and 11 exhibited moderate differential activity as SR Ca2+ channel agonists (EC50 13.6 and 100 microM, respectively) of the Ry1R FKBP12 complex, while the potency of 9 was almost half that of 10 (EC50 20.6 microM). The problem of dereplication of bastadins was addressed using 1H-NMR "fingerprinting" of MeO signals in the corresponding permethyl bastadin derivatives.

Isolation and structure of hemibastadinols 1-3 from the Papua New Guinea marine sponge Ianthella basta

Further investigation of the Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea) marine sponge Ianthella basta for biologically active constituents has led to the isolation of hemibastadins 1 (2), 2 (3), and 3 (4) and the new brominated tyrosine derivatives hemibastadinols 1-3 (9, 13, and 14). Isolation and structure elucidation of the monomethyl ether derivatives (7 and 8) of hemibastadins 1 and 2 and the 3-bromotyramine amide of oxalic acid amide (1a) concluded our chemical investigation of I. basta. The hemibastadins and hemibastadinols represent important biosynthetic links to a series of bromotyrosine tetramers collectively known as the bastadins. The antimicrobial activity of the bastadins, hemibastadins, and hemibastadinols is summarized.

Fishing for drugs from the sea: status and strategies

Marine organisms represent an enormous, essentially unexploited, resource of natural products. Globally, the race to develop marine-derived drugs is well under way with many pharmaceutical companies positioning themselves to reap large profits by the exploitation of the ocean's rich chemical diversity. Targeted strategies, often in combination with high-throughput screening, are being employed in this hunt for novel pharmacotherapeutic agents. David de Vries and Phil Beart examine the potential, problems and technologies of an international pharmaceutical search that has important ethical considerations.