NP3 MS Workflow: An Open-Source Software System to Empower Natural Product-Based Drug Discovery Using Untargeted Metabolomics.

Natural products (or specialized metabolites) are historically the main source of new drugs. However, the current drug discovery pipelines require miniaturization and speeds that are incompatible with traditional natural product research methods, especially in the early stages of the research. This article introduces the NP3 MS Workflow, a robust open-source software system for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) untargeted metabolomic data processing and analysis, designed to rank bioactive natural products directly from complex mixtures of compounds, such as bioactive biota samples. NP3 MS Workflow allows minimal user intervention as well as customization of each step of LC-MS/MS data processing, with diagnostic statistics to allow interpretation and optimization of LC-MS/MS data processing by the user. NP3 MS Workflow adds improved computing of the MS2 spectra in an LC-MS/MS data set and provides tools for automatic [M + H]+ ion deconvolution using fragmentation rules; chemical structural annotation against MS2 databases; and relative quantification of the precursor ions for bioactivity correlation scoring. The software will be presented with case studies and comparisons with equivalent tools currently available. NP3 MS Workflow shows a robust and useful approach to select bioactive natural products from complex mixtures, improving the set of tools available for untargeted metabolomics. It can be easily integrated into natural product-based drug-discovery pipelines and to other fields of research at the interface of chemistry and biology.

Antimicrobial metabolites produced by endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of Vochysia divergens.

Investigation of the endophytic fungi Nigrospora sphaerica, Nigrospora oryzae, and Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum MeOH fractions isolated from the leaves of Vochysia divergens, a medicinal species from the Brazilian Pantanal, led to the identification of five compounds, namely a new compound (1E,8Z)-10,11-dihydroxy-5,5,8-trimethyl-4-oxocycloundeca-1,8-diene-1-carbaldehyde (1) and four known compounds: 5-methylmellein (2), sclerone (3), daldinone A (4), and lasiodiplodin (5). All compounds were identified using spectroscopic methods, and 1 was corroborated with mass spectrometry, while the known compounds were compared with data in the literature. The relative configuration of compound 1 was determined based on theoretical conformational studies as well as the J experimental values between the hydroxymethyne hydrogens. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds was evaluated. Promising results were obtained for compounds 2, 4, and 5 since they inhibited the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, suggesting the potential of these microorganisms as a source of new antibacterial agents.

Discovery of lead natural products for developing pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global public health crisis. The reduced efficacy of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), such as omicron BA.5 subvariants, has underlined the need to explore a novel spectrum of antivirals that are effective against existing and evolving SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. To address the need for novel therapeutic options, we applied cell-based high-content screening to a library of natural products (NPs) obtained from plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine sponges, which represent a considerable diversity of chemical scaffolds. The antiviral effect of 373 NPs was evaluated using the mNeonGreen (mNG) reporter SARS-CoV-2 virus in a lung epithelial cell line (Calu-3). The screening identified 26 NPs with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) below 50 µM against mNG-SARS-CoV-2; 16 of these had EC50 values below 10 µM and three NPs (holyrine A, alotaketal C, and bafilomycin D) had EC50 values in the nanomolar range. We demonstrated the pan-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these three lead antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 highly transmissible Omicron subvariants (BA.5, BA.2 and BA.1) and highly pathogenic Delta VOCs in human Calu-3 lung cells. Notably, holyrine A, alotaketal C, and bafilomycin D, are potent nanomolar inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.2. The pan-SARS-CoV-2 activity of alotaketal C [protein kinase C (PKC) activator] and bafilomycin D (V-ATPase inhibitor) suggest that these two NPs are acting as host-directed antivirals (HDAs). Future research should explore whether PKC regulation impacts human susceptibility to and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it should confirm the important role of human V-ATPase in the VOC lifecycle. Interestingly, we observed a synergistic action of bafilomycin D and N-0385 (a highly potent inhibitor of human TMPRSS2 protease) against Omicron subvariant BA.2 in human Calu-3 lung cells, which suggests that these two highly potent HDAs are targeting two different mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry. Overall, our study provides insight into the potential of NPs with highly diverse chemical structures as valuable inspirational starting points for developing pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics and for unravelling potential host factors and pathways regulating SARS-CoV-2 VOC infection including emerging omicron BA.5 subvariants.

Feature-Based Molecular Networking Discovery of Bromopyrrole Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Agelas dispar.

Investigation of the marine sponge Agelas dispar MeOH fractions using feature-based molecular networking, dereplication, and isolation led to the discovery of new bromopyrrole-derived metabolites. An in-house library of bromopyrrole alkaloids previously isolated from A. dispar and Dictyonella sp. was utilized, along with the investigation of an MS/MS fragmentation of these compounds. Our strategy led to the isolation and identification of the disparamides A-C (1-3), with a novel carbon skeleton. Additionally, new dispyrins B-F (4-8) and nagelamides H2 and H3 (9 and 10) and known nagelamide H (11), citrinamine B (12), ageliferin (13), bromoageliferin (14), and dibromoageliferin (15) were also isolated and identified by analysis of spectroscopic data. Analysis of MS/MS fragmentation data and molecular networking analysis indicated the presence of hymenidin (16), oroidin (17), dispacamide (18), monobromodispacamide (19), keramadine (20), longamide B (21), methyl ester of longamide B (22), hanishin (23), methyl ester of 3-debromolongamide B (24), and 3-debromohanishin (25). Antibacterial activity of ageliferin (13), bromoageliferin (14), and dibromoageliferin (15) was evaluated against susceptible and multi-drug-resistant ESKAPE pathogenic bacteria Klabsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Enterococcus faecalis. Dibromoageliferin (15) displayed the most potent antimicrobial activity against all tested susceptible and MDR strains. Compounds 13-15 presented no significant hemolytic activity up to 100 µM.

Absolute configuration of cytotoxic anthraquinones from a Brazilian cave soil-derived fungus, Aspergillus sp. SDC28.

Microbial strains isolated from extreme and understudied environments, such as caves, are still poorly investigated for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract from the growth medium produced by the soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SDC28, isolated from a Brazilian cave, yielded two anthraquinones: versicolorin C (1) and versiconol (2). The complete assignment of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopic data of 1 and 2 was performed for the first time. Moreover, the yet unreported absolute configuration of both compounds was unambiguously established by analysis of experimental and theoretical electronic circular dichroism data. Vibrational circular dichroism was also applied to confirm the absolute stereochemistry of 2. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activity against human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR3).

The isolation of water-soluble natural products - challenges, strategies and perspectives.

Covering period: up to 2019Water-soluble natural products constitute a relevant group of secondary metabolites notably known for presenting potent biological activities. Examples are aminoglycosides, ß-lactam antibiotics, saponins of both terrestrial and marine origin, and marine toxins. Although extensively investigated in the past, particularly during the golden age of antibiotics, hydrophilic fractions have been less scrutinized during the last few decades. This review addresses the possible reasons on why water-soluble metabolites are now under investigated and describes approaches and strategies for the isolation of these natural compounds. It presents examples of several classes of hydrosoluble natural products and how they have been isolated. Novel stationary phases and chromatography techniques are also reviewed, providing a perspective towards a renaissance in the investigation of water-soluble natural products.

Antiproliferative Flavanoid Dimers Isolated from Brazilian Red Propolis.

Herein reported are results of the chemical and biological investigation of red propolis collected at the Brazilian Northeast coastline. New propolones A-D (1-4), with a 3-{3-[(2-phenylbenzofuran-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}chromane skeleton; propolonones A-C (5-7), with a 3-[3-(3-benzylbenzofuran-2-yl)phenyl]chromane skeleton; and propolol A (8), with a 6-(3-benzylbenzofuran-2-yl)-3-phenylchromane skeleton, were isolated as constituents of Brazilian red propolis by cytotoxicity-guided assays and structurally identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Propolone B (2) and propolonone A (5) display significant cytotoxic activities against an ovarian cancer cell line expressing a multiple drug resistance phenotype when compared with doxorubicin.

Water-Soluble Glutamic Acid Derivatives Produced in Culture by Penicillium solitum IS1-A from King George Island, Maritime Antarctica.

A new method of screening was developed to generate 770 organic and water-soluble fractions from extracts of nine species of marine sponges, from the growth media of 18 species of marine-derived fungi, and from the growth media of 13 species of endophytic fungi. The screening results indicated that water-soluble fractions displayed significant bioactivity in cytotoxic, antibiotic, anti-Leishmania, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi, and inhibition of proteasome assays. Purification of water-soluble fractions from the growth medium of Penicillium solitum IS1-A provided the new glutamic acid derivatives solitumine A (1), solitumine B (2), and solitumidines A-D (3-6). The structures of compounds 1-6 have been established by analysis of spectroscopic data, chemical derivatizations, and vibrational circular dichroism calculations. Although no biological activity could be observed for compounds 1-6, the new structures reported for 1-6 indicate that the investigation of water-soluble natural products represents a relevant strategy in finding new secondary metabolites.

New tetrodotoxin analogs in Brazilian pufferfishes tissues and microbiome.

While tetrodotoxin (TTX) is commonly found in pufferfish tissues, it is unclear if bacterial symbionts isolated from pufferfish tissues can produce TTX. In this investigation, UPLC qTOF-MS/MS analysis of tissue extracts obtained from Sphoeroides spengleri and Canthigaster figuereidoi identified TTX in their composition, indicating their consumption is unsafe. UPLC qTOF-MS/MS analysis coupled with Molecular Networking indicated new TTX analogs (methyl-TTX, TTX-acetate, hydroxypropyl-TTX and glycerol-TTX). Bacterial extracts from sixteen strains revealed a compound with a [M+H]+ ion at m/z 320.1088, identical to TTX. However, TTX itself was not detected in these cultures by UPLC-MS/MS. Neurotoxicity of Vibrio A665 purified fraction 2 (with precursor [M+H]+ ion at m/z 320.1088) was significant in human neural stem cells (hNSCs), but the Nav blockage activity was not confirmed by the veratridine/ouabain essays, indicating a possible difference in the mechanism of action between the bacterium A665 purified fraction 2 and TTX. Vibrios symbionts of pufferfish point out involving in the production of TTX precursors.

Approaches for the isolation and identification of hydrophilic, light-sensitive, volatile and minor natural products.

Covering: up to 2019The discovery of new bioactive natural products gained momentum during the last few decades, resulting from instrumentation advances, from the expansion of genome mining and regulation, as well as by exploration of untapped biological sources. However, water-soluble, volatile, minor and photosensitive natural products are yet poorly known. This review discusses the literature reporting the isolation strategies for some of these metabolites. Analysis of minor metabolites at sub-milligram level are also presented, since analytical instrumentation enabling structure assignment in minute quantities is now routine. Major trends related to natural products discovery are discussed, under the light of further developments in biodiscovery.

Bromopyrrole Alkaloid Inhibitors of the Proteasome Isolated from a Dictyonella sp. Marine Sponge Collected at the Amazon River Mouth.

The new pyrrole-imidazole and pyrrole-guanidine alkaloids 4-debromooroidin (1), 4-debromougibohlin (2), 5-debromougibohlin (3), and 5-bromopalau'amine (4), along with the known hymenidin (5) and (+)-monobromoisophakellin (6), have been isolated from a Dictyonella sp. marine sponge, collected at the Amazon River mouth. The bromine-substitution pattern observed for compounds 1, 2 and 4 is unusual among bromopyrrole alkaloids isolated from marine sponges. The 20S proteasome inhibitory activities of compounds 1-6 have been recorded, with 5-bromopalau'amine (4) being the most active in this series.

Isolation, synthesis and bioactivity studies of phomactin terpenoids.

Studies of secondary metabolites (natural products) that cover their isolation, chemical synthesis and bioactivity investigation present myriad opportunities for discovery. For example, the isolation of novel secondary metabolites can inspire advances in chemical synthesis strategies to achieve their practical preparation for biological evaluation. In the process, chemical synthesis can also provide unambiguous structural characterization of the natural products. Although the isolation, chemical synthesis and bioactivity studies of natural products are mutually beneficial, they are often conducted independently. Here, we demonstrate the benefits of a collaborative study of the phomactins, diterpenoid fungal metabolites that serve as antagonists of the platelet activating factor receptor. Our isolation of novel phomactins has spurred the development of a bioinspired, unified approach that achieves the total syntheses of six congeners. We also demonstrate in vitro the beneficial effects of several phomactins in suppressing the rate of repopulation of tumour cells following gamma radiation therapy.

Rearranged Terpenoids from the Marine Sponge Darwinella cf. oxeata and Its Predator, the Nudibranch Felimida grahami.

Marine sponges are a rich source of terpenoids with rearranged spongian carbon skeletons. Investigation of extracts from the sponge Darwinella cf. oxeata yielded four new rearranged diterpenoids, oxeatine (2) and oxeatamides H-J (3-5), as well as the known metabolites oxeatamide A (6), oxeatamide A methyl ester (7), and membranolide (1). Oxeatine (2) has a new heterocyclic skeleton, while oxeatamide J (5) has an N-methyl urea group included in a γ-lactam moiety. UPLC-QTOF analysis of the extract obtained from the mantle of the nudibranch Felimida grahami indicated the presence of 1 and 4.

An epigenetic modifier induces production of (10'S)-verruculide B, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases by Phoma sp. nov. LG0217, a fungal endophyte of Parkinsonia microphylla.

Incorporation of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), to a culture broth of the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. nov. LG0217 isolated from Parkinsonia microphylla changed its metabolite profile and resulted in the production of (10'S)-verruculide B (1), vermistatin (2) and dihydrovermistatin (3). When cultured in the absence of the epigenetic modifier, it produced a new metabolite, (S,Z)-5-(3',4'-dihydroxybutyldiene)-3-propylfuran-2(5H)-one (4) together with nafuredin (5). The structure of 4 was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and its absolute configuration was determined by application of the modified Mosher's ester method. The absolute structure of (10'S)-verruculide B was determined as 5-[(10'S,2'E,6'E)-10',11'-dihydroxy-3',7',11'-trimethyldodeca-2',6'-dien-1'-yl]-(3R)-6,8-dihydroxy-3-methylisochroman-1-one (1) with the help of CD and NOE data. Compound 1 inhibited the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) 1B (PTP1B), Src homology 2-containing PTP 1 (SHP1) and T-cell PTP (TCPTP) with IC50 values of 13.7±3.4, 8.8±0.6, and 16.6±3.8µM, respectively. Significance of these activities and observed modest selectivity of 1 for SHP1 over PTP1B and TCPTP is discussed.

Biologically active eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes from Camarops sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from Alibertia macrophylla.

Two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, xylarenones F (3) and G (4), have been isolated from solid substrate cultures of a Camarops sp. endophytic fungus isolated from Alibertia macrophylla, together with the known compounds xylarenones C (1) and D (2). The structures and relative configurations of 1-4 were elucidated by extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis. Due to their effects on the respiratory burst of neutrophils, which included inhibition of the reactive oxygen species production, these sesquiterpenes exhibited potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.