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MS/MS-based molecular networking strain prioritization led to the discovery of a group of cyclic depsipeptides from an endolichenic

Seven previously undescribed compounds were isolated from the endophytic fungus

Four new diphenyl ether derivatives, neopestolides A-D (

Five new tyrosine derivatives (

Eighteen new nor-isopimarane diterpenes, xylarinorditerpenes A-R (

Biotransformation of β-mangostin (1) by the endophytic fungus Xylaria feejeensis GM06 afforded hexacyclic ring-fused xanthenes with an unprecedented hexacyclic heterocylic skeleton. β-Mangostin (1) was transformed to two diastereomeric pairs of enantiomers, mangostafeejin A [(-)-2a/(+)-2b)] and mangostafeejin B [(-)-3a/(+)-3b)]. The chemical structures of the transformation products were elucidated by analysis of NMR and MS data, and the structure of mangostafeejin A [(-)-2a/(+)-2b)] was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configurations of 3a and 3b were established on the basis of calculated and measured ECD data using the ECD spectra of 2a and 2b as models. The fungal biotransformation described herein provides an effective method to convert an abundant achiral plant natural product scaffold into new chiral heterocyclic scaffolds representing expanded chemical diversity for biological activity screening.

The multidrug-sensitive budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 12geneΔ0HSR-iERG6, is very useful in antifungal screens. A novel compound, named pestynol (1), was discovered from a culture of the fungus Pestalotiopsis humus FKI-7473 using the multidrug-sensitive yeast. The structure of 1 was elucidated by NMR studies and modified Mosher's method as (1 R,2 R,3 R,4 R)-( E)-5-(7,11-dimethyl-3-methylenedodeca-6,10-dien-1-yn-1-yl)cyclohex-5-ene-1,2,3,4-tetraol. Compound 1 showed antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and S. cerevisiae 12geneΔ0HSR-iERG6 and Mucor racemosus, but displayed only weak cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines. Compound 1 displayed antifungal activities against S. cerevisiae 12geneΔ0HSR-iERG6 and Mucor racemosus at 10 μg/disc.

Pancreatic cancer, which has an extremely poor prognosis, is one of the most fatal human cancers. Chemotherapy is the main palliative treatment for advanced cancer patients and also plays an indispensable role in postoperative treatments for surgical patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more innovative anticancer drugs to fight against this fatal disease. Here, we investigate the potential of benzophenone derivatives, obtained from a marine-derived strain of the fungus

The Arctic fungus

Five new tetralones, daldiniones A-E (

Four new alkyl aromatics, penixylarins A-D (

Six new isochroman derivatives (annulohypoxylomans A–C, 1–3; annulohypoxylomanols A and B, 6 and 7; and annulohypoxyloside, 8), an isocoumarin (annulohypoxylomarin A, 4), and an azaphilone derivative (xylariphilone, 5) were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract derived from cultures of the endophytic fungus JS540 found in the leaves of Zizania caduciflora. The JS540 strain was identified as Annulohypoxylon truncatum. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry and by comparison with related compounds from the literature. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Xylariphilone (5) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12 p40, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production with IC50 values of 5.3, 19.4, and 37.6 μM, respectively.

Chlorotheolides A (1) and B (2), two new spiroketals possessing the unique [4,7]methanochromene and dispiro-trione skeletons, respectively, and their putative biosynthetic precursors, 1-undecen-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (3) and maldoxin (4), were isolated from the solid substrate fermentation of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis theae (N635). Their structures were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Biogenetically, compounds 1 and 2 could be generated from the co-isolated 3 and 4 via Diels-Alder reactions. Chlorotheolide (2) showed an antiproliferative effect against the human tumor cell line HeLa and induced an autophagic process in the cells.

Seven new pimarane-type diterpene derivatives, libertellenones O–S (1–5) and eutypellenones A and B (6 and 7), together with two known compounds (8 and 9), were isolated from the culture of Eutypella sp. D-1 obtained from high-latitude soil of the Arctic. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic data, as well as experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis. Structurally, compounds 1–5 possess a cyclopropyl-fused pimarane diterpene moiety, whereas compounds 6 and 7 share an unusual cyclobutyl-fused pimarane diterpene skeleton. Compounds 1–9 exhibited cytotoxicities against HeLa, MCF-7, HCT-116, PANC-1, and SW1990 cells, with IC50 values in the range of 0.3 to 29.4 μM. Compounds 6 and 7 could dose-dependently inhibit the activity of NF-κB and exhibited significantly inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide.

Seven new polyketide metabolites (disseminins A-E, 1-5, and spiciferones D and E, 7 and 8) were obtained from cultures of a fungicolous isolate of Pestalotiopsis disseminata (NRRL 62562), together with a related compound (6) previously known only as a semisynthetic product. Structures were determined mainly by analysis of HRMS and NMR data. Biogenetically related compounds 1 and 2 possess uncommon bis-tetrahydrofuran and dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring systems, respectively. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the p-bromobenzoate derivative of 1 confirmed the structure and enabled assignment of its absolute configuration.

Eight new viridins, nodulisporiviridins A-H (1-8), were isolated from the extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-17-2-1) that was fermented with potato-dextrose broth. The structures were determined using spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Nodulisporiviridins A-D (1-4) are unique viridins with an opened ring A. The Aβ42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 1-8 were evaluated using a thioflavin T (ThT) assay with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as the positive control (EGCG IC50 of 0.5 μM). Nodulisporiviridin G (7) displayed potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.2 μM, and the preliminary trend of activity of these viridins as Aβ42 aggregation inhibitors was proposed. The short-term memory assay on an Aβ transgenic drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease showed that all eight compounds improved the short-term memory capacity, with potencies close to that of the positive control (memantine).

Two new compounds, pestalotin 4'-O-methyl-β-mannopyranoside (1) and 3S,4R-(+)-4-hydroxymellein (2), were isolated from an organic extract of a Xylaria feejeensis, which was isolated as an endophytic fungus from Hintonia latiflora. In addition, the known compounds 3S,4S-(+)-4-hydroxymellein (3), 3S-(+)-8-methoxymellein (4), and the quinone derivatives 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (5), 4S,5S,6S-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-5,6-epoxycyclohex-2-en-1-one (6), and 4R,5R-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylcyclohexen-2-en-1-one (7) were obtained. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using a set of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic centers of 1 and 2 was determined using ECD spectroscopy combined with time-dependent density functional theory calculations. In the case of 1, comparison of the experimental and theoretical (3)J6-7 coupling constants provided further evidence for the stereochemical assignments. Compounds 2 and 3 inhibited Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-glucosidase (αGHY), with IC50 values of 441 ± 23 and 549 ± 2.5 μM, respectively. Their activity was comparable to that of acarbose (IC50 = 545 ± 19 μM), used as positive control. Molecular docking predicted that both compounds bind to αGHY in a site different from the catalytic domain, which could imply an allosteric type of inhibition.

Studies of the coprophilous fungus Hypocopra rostrata (TTI-0009, NRRL 66178) isolated from a sample of horse dung collected in Texas led to the isolation of three new sesquiterpenoids that we named hypocoprins A–C (1–3), together with the known fungal metabolite helvolic acid. The new metabolites have a distinctive ring system consisting of fused cyclopropane and cyclodecene units not previously reported from a fungal source. Compounds 1 and 3 moderately inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The structures of these metabolites were assigned mainly by analysis of 2D NMR and HRESITOFMS data. Relative and absolute configurations were assigned by interpretation of NMR J-values and NOESY data and by application of Mosher’s method. These results represent the first report of chemistry from any strain of the genus Hypocopra.

A new chlorinated pentacyclic polyketide, daldinone E (1), was purified from a Daldinia sp. fungal isolate treated with the epigenetic modifier suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). A biosynthetically related epoxide-containing daldinone analogue, 2, was also purified from the same fungus. The structures of both compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were assigned by analysis of their NMR data (coupling constants and ROESY correlations) and DFT calculations of specific rotations and ECD spectra. During the course of these studies it was determined that metabolite 2 and the previously reported daldinone B shared the same spectroscopic data, leading to a revision of the reported structure. Both compounds 1 and 2 also exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activities with potency comparable to the positive control ascorbic acid.

Four new tetracyclic diterpene glycosides, namely, sordarins C-F (1-4), and three new γ-lactone polyketides, namely, xylogiblactones A-C (5-7), along with sordarin were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the fermented broths of Xylotumulus gibbisporus YMJ863. The structures of 1-7 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses. The configurations of 1-4 were deduced by NOESY, molecular modeling, and comparison with the literature. The relative configurations of 5-7 were deduced by X-ray crystallographic analysis of 5. Compounds 1-5 and sordarin were evaluated in an antifungal assay using Candida albicans ATCC 18804, C. albicans ATCC MYA-2876, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2345, and only sordarin exhibited significant antifungal activities against these fungal strains, with MIC values of 64.0, 32.0, and 32.0 μg/mL, respectively. The effect of compounds 1-7 and sordarin on the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated murine macrophages was also evaluated. Compounds 2 and sordarin inhibited NO production with IC50 values of 327.2±46.6 and 157.1±24.1 μM, respectively.

Seven new 14-membered macrolides, pestalotioprolides C (2), D-H (4-8), and 7-O-methylnigrosporolide (3), together with four known analogues, pestalotioprolide B (1), seiricuprolide (9), nigrosporolide (10), and 4,7-dihydroxy-13-tetradeca-2,5,8-trienolide (11), were isolated from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR and MS data and by comparison with literature data. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to confirm the absolute configurations of 1, 2, and 10, while Mosher's method and the TDDFT-ECD approach were applied to determine the absolute configurations of 5 and 6. Compounds 3-6 showed significant cytotoxicity against the murine lymphoma cell line L5178Y with IC50 values of 0.7, 5.6, 3.4, and 3.9 μM, respectively, while compound 5 showed potent activity against the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 with an IC50 value of 1.2 μM. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. Coculture of P. microspora with Streptomyces lividans caused a roughly 10-fold enhanced accumulation of compounds 5 and 6 compared to axenic fungal control.

Xylaranone, a previously unreported guaiane sesquiterpene along with the known terpenoid xylaranol B and the two mellein derivatives 3,5-dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and 3,5-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin were isolated from Biscogniauxia nummularia. Pogostol was also isolated from this fungus, and in light of our spectroscopic data, its structure was revised and corrected. This fungus, which was isolated as an endophyte from the plum yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia, is also suspected of being a pathogen. Interestingly, we report here the potent antigerminative activity of xylaranone and xylaranol B against seeds of Raphanus sativus at concentrations comparable to glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide. This effect suggests a role for these metabolites in the latent fungal pathogenesis of B. nummularia.

Two new isoprenylated epoxyquinol derivatives, pestaloquinols A (2) and B (3), and their putative biosynthetic precursor, cytosporin D (1), were isolated from the crude extract of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated primarily by NMR experiments. Pestaloquinols A (2) and B (3) possess a previously undescribed nonacyclic ring system and showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells.

Seven new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-5, 7, and 8) and the known mairetolide F (6) were isolated from the endophytic Xylaria sp. BCC 21097. A new furofurandione (9) was also isolated from the fungal extract. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analyses of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data in combination with chemical reaction studies. Eremophilanolides possessing an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone (1-3) exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities, while related analogues bearing an endo double bond (6 and 7) were inactive.

Photinides A-F (1-6), six new unique benzofuranone-derived gamma-lactones, have been isolated from the crude extract of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis photiniae. The structures of these compounds were elucidated primarily by NMR spectroscopy, and their absolute configurations were assigned by application of the CD excitation chirality method. Compounds 1-6 displayed modest cytotoxic effects against the human tumor cell line MDA-MB-231.

Three new isocoumarin derivatives ( 2- 4) were isolated together with monocerin ( 1) from Microdochium bolleyi, an endophytic fungus from Fagonia cretica, a herbaceous plant of the semiarid coastal regions of Gomera. Compounds 2 and 3 are both 12-oxo epimers of 1, and 4 is a ring-opened derivative of 1. The structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. The absolute configurations were determined by a modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed good antifungal, antibacterial, and antialgal activities against Microbotryum violaceum, Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Chlorella fusca. Compound 2 was moderately antifungal and antialgal.

Four new triterpenoid glycosides, kolokosides A-D (1-4), along with the known compound 19,20-epoxycytochalasin N, were isolated from cultures of a Hawaiian wood-decay fungus (Xylaria sp.). The structures and relative configurations of 1-4 were determined primarily by analysis of NMR data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by application of the exciton chirality method. Compound 1 exhibited activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

Carneic acids A and B (1, 2) are polyketide antibiotics structurally related to phomopsidin. They were isolated as major constituents of the stromata of Hypoxylon carneum, a species that had shown a highly specific secondary metabolite profile in a survey of xylariaceous ascomycetes based on HPLC profiling. Their chemical structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic methods and by preparation of derivatives. An X-ray crystal structure of the dinitrobenzoate of carneic acid B methyl ester (8) was obtained, even allowing for determination of its absolute structure. The carneic acids showed weak antibacterial and moderate antifungal activities in the serial dilution assay against selected microbial organisms. They appear to be species-specific marker molecules in H. carneum from different geographic regions, but do not constitute major metabolites of more than 100 species of Xylariaceae. Their biological and chemotaxonomic significance is discussed.

A novel 20-norpimarane glucoside, xylopimarane (1), together with the known sphaeropsidin C (2) and clonostachydiol (3), was isolated from the fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 4297. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 with respective IC(50) values of 1.0, 13, and 65 μM.

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.

Chemical studies of organic extracts from cultures of the coprophilous fungus Bombardioidea anartia have led to the discovery of bombardolides A--D (1--4), a series of new antifungal and antibacterial metabolites. Three of these metabolites (1--3) were obtained as inseparable pairs of geometric isomers. A new 3-substituted phenol (5) and the known compound asterriquinone B4 were also encountered. The structures of compounds 1--5 were determined by analysis of NMR and MS data.

The pestalotiopsones are fungal metabolites isolated from an endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. found in the mangrove Rhizophora mucronata, used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat symptoms of dysentery. The absolute configurations of pestalotiopsones D (4) and E (5) were elucidated through total synthesis of both the R and S enantiomers, allowing for the assignment of the stereochemistry of the natural compounds as the (+)-S enantiomers. The key steps include homologation of a substituted benzoic acid to the appropriate phenylacetate derivative using Birch reductive alkylation, an oxa-Michael cyclization induced by microwave irradiation to form the chromanone substructure, and an IBX-mediated dehydrogenation yielding the chromone skeleton. Assessment of the synthetic compounds against clinical pathogens was performed.

Two new cyclic pentapeptides (1 and 2) and the known blazein (3), ganodesterone (4), ergosterin (5), cerevisterol (6), 24-methylcholesta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (7), 5,8-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3-ol (8), 16-α-d-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (9), and 16-hydroxy isopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (10) have been isolated from the crude extract of an endolichenic Xylaria sp. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated primarily by NMR and MS methods. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were assigned using Marfey's method on their acid hydrolysate. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for activity against fungi and for synergistic antifungal activity. Compound 1 showed synergistic antifungal activity against Candida albicans SC5314 with 0.004 μg/mL ketoconazole.

Two new gamma-lactones, eutypellins A (1) and B (2), and two ent-eudesmane sesquiterpenes, ent-4(15)-eudesmen-11-ol-1-one (3) and ent-4(15)-eudesmen-1alpha,11-diol (4), together with three known pimarane diterpenes, diaporthein B, scopararane A, and libertellenone C, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Eutypella sp. BCC 13199. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 4 was confirmed by application of the modified Mosher's method. Eutypellin A (1) and sesquiterpene 3 exhibited weak cytotoxic activities.

Pestaloficiols F-L (1-7), new isoprenylated chromone derivatives including one heterodimer (7), have been isolated from a scale-up fermentation extract of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici. The structures of these compounds were elucidated primarily by NMR and MS methods. The absolute configurations of 1 and 4 were assigned using the modified Mosher method. Compounds 1-3, 5, and 6 displayed inhibitory effects on HIV-1 replication in C8166 cells, whereas 4-7 showed cytotoxic activity against the human tumor cell lines HeLa and MCF7.

Six new chromones, named pestalotiopsones A-F (1-6), and the known derivative 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (7) were obtained from the mycelia and culture filtrate of the mangrove endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp., which was isolated from leaves of the Chinese Mangrove plant Rhizophora mucronata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Pestalotiopsones A-F are chromones having both an alkyl side chain substituted at C-2 and a free or substituted carboxyl group at C-5. Compound 6 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the murine cancer cell line L5178Y, whereas the other investigated compounds proved to be inactive.

Three metabolites, named xyloketal J (1), xyloester A (2), and xyloallenolide B (3), together with the known substituted dihydrobenzofuran (4) were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. (#2508). Structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR.

Two novel benzoquinone metabolites, 2-chloro-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione ( 1) and xylariaquinone A ( 2) together with two known compounds were isolated from an endophytic fungus, Xylaria sp. Their structures were assigned by analysis of spectroscopic data, and the structures of 1 and 3 were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum, K1 strain, with IC 50 values of 1.84 and 6.68 microM and cytotoxicity against African green monkey kidney fibroblasts (Vero cells) with IC 50 values of 1.35 and184 microM, respectively.

Two new benzoquinones with antifungal, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities have been isolated from liquid cultures of the coprophilous fungus Podospora anserina. The structures of anserinones A (1) and B (2) were assigned on the basis of MS and NMR results, and the absolute stereochemistry of 2 was deduced by analysis of 1H-NMR data for its (R)- and (S)-2-phenylbutyryl ester derivatives.

Cochliobolic acid (1), a novel biologically active natural product, is produced by submerged fermentation of Cochliobolus lunatus. Compound 1 was determined to be a novel polyketide possessing a substituted tetrahydrofuran ring, a conjugated polyene chain and a 1,2-diketone moiety, by interpretation of NMR, MS, and UV/vis spectroscopic data. Compound 1 inhibits the binding of TGF-alpha to the EGF receptor of the human epidermal cell line A431 in a SPA assay with an IC50 of 1.6 microM.

Three new diphenyl ethers, barceloneic acids A, B, and barceloneic lactone [1, 2, and 3, respectively] were isolated from a fermentation extract of a fungus of the genus Phoma. The structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by a combination of spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The effect of these compounds on the inhibition of farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) was evaluated and results are presented. Barceloneic acid A [1] is a novel and modest inhibitor of FPTase with an IC50 value of 40 microM.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an EtOAc extract from the mycelium of the coprophilous fungus Apiospora montagnei has furnished a new antifungal metabolite, named apiosporamide [1], and the known dihydroisocoumarin cis-(3R,4R)-4-hydroxymellein [4]. The structure of 1 was assigned on the basis of HMBC, HMQC, NOESY, and hrms data. Elucidation of the structure was complicated by the fact that several nmr signals appeared only under certain conditions.

gamma-Pyrone-3-acetic acid (L-741,494) is a novel metabolite produced by a culture of the fungal genus Xylaria. This substance is a water-soluble, competitive, irreversible inhibitor of Interleukin-1 beta Converting Enzyme that is inactive against papain and trypsin. It has a mol wt of 154 and an empirical formula of C7H6O4. We propose the name xylaric acid for this compound.