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Biomedical subjects

V J Paul

Publications and source records attributed to V J Paul.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Total structure determination of apratoxin A, a potent novel cytotoxin from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula.

Apratoxin A (1), a potent cytotoxin with a novel skeleton, has been isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula Harvey ex Gomont. This cyclodepsipeptide of mixed peptide-polyketide biogenesis bears a thiazoline ring flanked by polyketide portions, one of which possesses an unusual methylation pattern. Its gross structure has been elucidated by spectral analysis, including various 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations of the amino acid-derived units were determined by chiral HPLC analysis of hydrolysis products. The relative stereochemistry of the new dihydroxylated fatty acid unit, 3,7-dihydroxy-2,5,8,8-tetramethylnonanoic acid, was elucidated by successful application of the J-based configuration analysis originally developed for acyclic organic compounds using carbon-proton spin-coupling constants ((2,3)J(C,H)) and proton-proton spin-coupling constants ((3)J(H,H)); its absolute stereochemistry was established by Mosher analysis. The conformation of 1 in solution was mimicked by molecular modeling, employing a combination of distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics. Apratoxin A (1) possesses IC(50) values for in vitro cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines ranging from 0.36 to 0.52 nM; however, it was only marginally active in vivo against a colon tumor and ineffective against a mammary tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Pitipeptolides A and B, new cyclodepsipeptides from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula.

Two new cyclodepsipeptides have been isolated from a population of the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula collected at Piti Bomb Holes, Guam. They appear to be unique to this particular Guamanian collection and have been named pitipeptolides A (1) and B (2). Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and by characterization of degradation products. Distinctive features include the presence of a 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-7-octynoic acid residue in 1 and a 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-7-octenoic acid residue in 2, previously shown to be biosynthetic signatures of cyanobacterial metabolites. Pitipeptolides A (1) and B (2) exhibit weak cytotoxicity against LoVo cancer cells, but possess moderate antimycobacterial activity and stimulate elastase activity.

Cyanobacteria↗
PubMed2001

Isolation of dolastatin 10 from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca species VP642 and total stereochemistry and biological evaluation of its analogue symplostatin 1.

The potent antitumor agent dolastatin 10 (1) was originally isolated from the sea hare Dolabella auricularia, and we now report its isolation from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca sp. VP642 from Palau. The chemically related analogue symplostatin 1 (2) has been reisolated from Guamanian and Hawaiian varieties of S. hydnoides and its total stereochemistry completed by determining the N,N-dimethylisoleucine unit to be L. Symplostatin 1 (2), like dolastatin 10 (1), is a potent microtubule inhibitor. The antitumor activity of 2 was assessed in vivo against several murine tumors. Symplostatin 1 (2) was effective against a drug-insensitive mammary tumor and a drug-insensitive colon tumor; however, it was only slightly effective against two MDR tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

New steroidal alkaloids from an undescribed sponge of the genus Corticium.

Two new steroidal alkaloids, along with a previously reported one of the plakinamine class, were isolated from the sponge Corticium sp. collected from Guam. The structures of the new compounds were determined by combined spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity and antifungal activity as well as DNA- and RNA-cleaving activities.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2001

Chemical defenses of the sacoglossan mollusk Elysia rufescens and its host Alga bryopsis sp.

Sacoglossans are a group of opisthobranch mollusks that have been the source of numerous secondary metabolites; however, there are few examples where a defensive ecological role for these compounds has been demonstrated experimentally. We investigated the deterrent properties of the sacoglossan Elysia rufescens and its food alga Bryopsis sp. against natural fish predators. Bryopsis sp. produces kahalalide F, a major depsipeptide that is accumulated by the sacoglossan and that shows in vitro cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines. Our data show that both Bryopsis sp. and Elysia rufescens are chemically protected against fish predators, as indicated by the deterrent properties of their extracts at naturally occurring concentrations. Following bioassay-guided fractionation, we observed that the antipredatory compounds of Bryopsis sp. were present in the butanol and chloroform fractions, both containing the depsipeptide kahalalide F. Antipredatory compounds of Elysia rufescens were exclusively present in the dichloromethane fraction. Further bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of kahalalide F as the only compound responsible for the deterrent properties of the sacoglossan. Our data show that kahalalide F protects both Brvopsis sp. and Elysia rufescens from fish predation. This is the first report of a diet-derived depsipeptide used as a chemical defense in a sacoglossan.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

Apramides A-G, novel lipopeptides from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula.

Six new metabolites have been isolated from a lyngbyastatin 2-producing strain of the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula collected at Apra Harbor, Guam, and their structures elucidated. These linear lipopeptides have been assigned the trivial names apramides A-F (1-6). From a more recent collection of this cyanobacterium, a structurally related compound, apramide G (7), has been found instead of apramides A-F (1-6). Structure elucidation of the lipopeptides 1-7 is based on spectroscopic techniques and chiral chromatography of hydrolysis products. The apramides appear as NMR-spectroscopically distinguishable conformers in solution, and this has been ascribed to the presence of a thiazole-containing modified amino acid unit.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed2000

Isolation and structure of the cytotoxin lyngbyabellin B and absolute configuration of lyngbyapeptin A from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula.

An analogue of the potent microfilament-disrupter lyngbyabellin A (1) has been isolated as a minor metabolite from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula collected at Apra Harbor, Guam. It possesses slightly weaker cytotoxicity than 1 and has been named lyngbyabellin B (2). Primarily NMR spectroscopy was used to determine its structure. The absolute configuration of 2 has been ascertained by chiral HPLC analysis of degradation products and by comparison with lyngbyabellin A (1). The known modified tetrapeptide lyngbyapeptin A (3) has also been found in the same extract, and its absolute stereochemistry could be determined for the first time.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed2000

A new indanone from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula that inhibits hypoxia-induced activation of the VEGF promoter in Hep3B cells.

A new indanone (1) has been isolated from the filamentous marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula, and its structure determined spectroscopically. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Compound 1 inhibits hypoxia-induced activation of the VEGF gene promoter in Hep3B human liver tumor cells, in vitro.

Cell Hypoxia↗
PubMed2000

Isolation, structure determination, and biological activity of Lyngbyabellin A from the marine cyanobacterium lyngbya majuscula.

Lyngbyabellin A (1), a significantly cytotoxic compound with unusual structural features, was isolated from a Guamanian strain of the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. This novel peptolide is structurally related to dolabellin (2) in that both depsipeptides bear a dichlorinated beta-hydroxy acid and two functionalized thiazole carboxylic acid units. Its gross structure has been elucidated by spectral analysis, including 2D NMR techniques. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of hydrolysis products and by characterization of the degradation products methyl 7,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyloctanoate (3) and the corresponding acid 4. The total structure was further supported by molecular modeling studies. The isolation of 1 from L. majuscula once more supports the proposal that many compounds originally isolated from the sea hare Dolabella auricularia are of cyanobacterial origin. Lyngbyabellin A (1) was shown to be a potent disrupter of the cellular microfilament network.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2000

New triterpenoid saponins from the sponge Melophlus isis.

Four new triterpenoid saponins were isolated, along with two known 30-norlanostane-type saponins- sarasinosides A(1) (1) and A(3) (2)-from the sponge Melophlus isis collected from Guam. The structures of these new compounds (3-6) proved to be 30-norlanosta-8(14),24-dien-23-ones bearing two hydroxyl groups or the corresponding methoxy groups at the 9alpha,15alpha- and 9alpha, 15beta-positions and the pentasaccharide portion identical with those of 1 and 2 at the 3beta position, by spectral, chemical, and GC analyses.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Tumonoic acids, novel metabolites from a cyanobacterial assemblage of Lyngbya majuscula and Schizothrix calcicola.

Five new metabolites have been isolated from a lyngbyastatin 1- and dolastatin 12-producing assemblage of Lyngbya majuscula and Schizothrix calcicola collected at Tumon Bay, Guam. Structure elucidation employed 2D NMR techniques and chemical derivatization. These compounds have been assigned the trivial names tumonoic acids A (2), B (1), and C (5); methyl tumonoate A (3), and methyl tumonoate B (4). Compounds 1 and 4 were also found in a lyngbyastatin 1-producing strain of L. majuscula from Guam.

Cyanobacteria↗
PubMed1999

Symplostatin 2: a dolastatin 13 analogue from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca hydnoides.

An analogue of dolastatin 13 (2) has been isolated from a marine cyanobacterium, Symploca hydnoides, collected near Guam. This new cyclic depsipeptide contains a L-methionine sulfoxide residue; however, the sulfoxide exists as both R- and S-forms, resulting in the doubling of several signals in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Structure elucidation required extensive application of 2-D NMR techniques such as COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY. The trivial name symplostatin 2 (1) has been assigned to the new metabolite and its isolation from S. hydnoides further supports the proposal that many compounds originally isolated from the sea hare Dolabella auricularia are most probably of cyanobacterial origin.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1999

Apakaochtodenes A and B: two tetrahalogenated monoterpenes from the red marine alga Portieria hornemannii.

The structure of apakaochtodene A, the minor isomer of two tetrahalogenated ochtodene monoterpenes, isolated from the red marine alga Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) Silva has been identified as 6(S)-bromo-1,4(S),8(R)-trichloro-2(Z)-ochtodene (1) by NMR spectral and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Its geometrical isomer, apakaochtodene B (2), which could not be separated from 1 and thus characterized as a 95:5 mixture of 2:1 had (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral characteristics similar to previously known ochtodene (3) and the related tetrahalogenated monoterpene 4.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1999

Lyngbyastatin 2 and norlyngbyastatin 2, analogues of dolastatin G and nordolastatin G from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula.

Lyngbyastatin 2 (1) and norlyngbyastatin 2 (2), new cytotoxic analogues of dolastatin G (3) and nordolastatin G (4), respectively, have been isolated as constituents from a Guamanian variety of the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. Structure elucidation of these cyclic depsipeptides relied on extensive application of 2D NMR techniques. The finding of these new metabolites further supports the proposal that many compounds originally isolated from the sea hare Dolabella auricularia are most likely of cyanobacterial origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Isolation, structure determination, and biological activity of dolastatin 12 and lyngbyastatin 1 from Lyngbya majuscula/Schizothrix calcicola cyanobacterial assemblages.

Lyngbyastatin 1 (1a), a new cytotoxic analogue of dolastatins 12 (2a) and 11 (4), was isolated as an inseparable mixture with its C-15 epimer (1b) from extracts of a Lyngbya majuscula/Schizothrix calcicola assemblage and a L. majuscula strain collected near Guam. Dolastatin 12 (2a) was also encountered as an inseparable mixture with its C-15 epimer (2b) in L. majuscula/S. calcicola assemblages. At least one of the compounds in each mixture appeared to exist in solution as a mixture of slowly interconverting conformers resulting in broadened signals in 1H NMR spectra. Structure elucidation therefore relied principally on mass spectroscopy and chemical degradation studies. Both 1ab and 2ab proved toxic with only marginal or no antitumor activity when tested against colon adenocarcinoma #38 or mammary adenocarcinoma #16/C. Both 1ab and 2ab were shown to be potent disrupters of cellular microfilament networks.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1998

Symplostatin 1: A dolastatin 10 analogue from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca hydnoides.

A new solid tumor selective cytotoxic analogue of dolastatin 10 (1) has been isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca hydnoides, collected near Guam. This metabolite has been assigned the trivial name symplostatin 1 (2). This discovery supports the proposal that many compounds isolated from the seahare Dolabella auricularia, the original source of the dolastatins, are of dietary origin.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Sesquiterpenoids of the drimane class from a sponge of the genus Dysidea.

Ten sesquiterpenoids, including seven new ones, have been isolated from an undescribed sponge of the genus Dysidea. Compounds 1-8 are sesquiterpenoids of the drimane class, while 9 and 10 are 12-norsesquiterpenoids of the same structural class. The structures of novel compounds have been determined by combined spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited moderate antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitory (Na+/K(+)-ATPase and PLA2) activities.

Animals↗