Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Spirocyclic Bromotyrosine Clavatadine C Analogs

Potential of Marine Sponge Metabolites against Prions: Bromotyrosine Derivatives, a Family of Interest

The screening of 166 extracts from tropical marine organisms (invertebrates, macroalgae) and 3 cyclolipopeptides from microorganisms against yeast prions highlighted the potential of Verongiida sponges to prevent the propagation of prions. We isolated the known compounds purealidin Q (1), aplysamine-2 (2), pseudoceratinine A (3), aerophobin-2 (4), aplysamine-1 (5), and pseudoceratinine B (6) for the first time from the Wallisian sponge Suberea laboutei. We then tested compounds 1-6 and sixteen other bromotyrosine and bromophenol derivatives previously isolated from Verongiida sponges against yeast prions, demonstrating the potential of 1-3, 5, 6, aplyzanzine C (7), purealidin A (10), psammaplysenes D (11) and F (12), anomoian F (14), and N,N-dimethyldibromotyramine (15). Following biological tests on mammalian cells, we report here the identification of the hitherto unknown ability of the six bromotyrosine derivatives 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, and 14 of marine origin to reduce the spread of the PrPSc prion and the ability of compounds 1 and 2 to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress. These two biological activities of these bromotyrosine derivatives are, to our knowledge, described here for the first time, offering a new therapeutic perspective for patients suffering from prion diseases that are presently untreatable and consequently fatal.

Marine Natural Products as Anticancer Agents 2.0

Global cancer incidence and death are expected to increase to 28 [...].

Structure-Function Studies of Sponge-Derived Compounds on the Cardiac CaV3.1 Channel

T-type calcium (Ca_V3) channels are involved in cardiac automaticity, development, and excitation-contraction coupling in normal cardiac myocytes. Their functional role becomes more pronounced in the process of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Currently, no Ca_V3 channel inhibitors are used in clinical settings. To identify novel T-type calcium channel ligands, purpurealidin analogs were electrophysiologically investigated. These compounds are alkaloids produced as secondary metabolites by marine sponges, and they exhibit a broad range of biological activities. In this study, we identified the inhibitory effect of purpurealidin I (1) on the rat Ca_V3.1 channel and conducted structure-activity relationship studies by characterizing the interaction of 119 purpurealidin analogs. Next, the mechanism of action of the four most potent analogs was investigated. Analogs 74, 76, 79, and 99 showed a potent inhibition on the Ca_V3.1 channel with IC₅₀'s at approximately 3 μM. No shift of the activation curve could be observed, suggesting that these compounds act like a pore blocker obstructing the ion flow by binding in the pore region of the Ca_V3.1 channel. A selectivity screening showed that these analogs are also active on hERG channels. Collectively, a new class of Ca_V3 channel inhibitors has been discovered and the structure-function studies provide new insights into the synthetic design of drugs and the mechanism of interaction with T-type Ca_V channels.

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Clavatadines C-E

We described herein the application of a convergent and protecting-group avoidant approach that led to the first total synthesis of the marine natural products clavatadine D (4) and E (5), and the second total synthesis of clavatadine C (3). In each case, a key amide-coupling afforded an immediate precursor of each natural product in a rapid manner from structurally similar western and eastern portions that derived from an ester of l-tyrosine and butane-1,4-diamine, respectively. A deprotection step free of detectable byproducts cleanly provided the remaining known members of the clavatadine family of natural products. Each total synthesis required five steps (longest linear sequence) with overall yields of 30-37%, 26-39%, and 28-50% for clavatadine C (3), D (4), and E (5), respectively. A screen of their potential anticancer activity against the NCI-60 cell line panel revealed cytotoxicity levels up to 38% across a broad spectrum of tumor types. Although clavatadine C (3) was relatively benign, clavatadine D (4) exhibited 20-38% growth inhibition against a wide array of cancer cell types including leukemia, non-small-cell lung, colon, ovarian, and breast. Clavatadine E (5) was active against two types of human brain tumors.