Three new pseudodistomins, piperidine alkaloids from the ascidian Pseudodistoma megalarva.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH-CH2Cl2 extract of the Micronesian ascidian Pseudodistoma megalarva yielded three new piperidine alkaloids, pseudodistomins D-F (3-5) and the previously reported pseudodistomins B and C (1 and 2). The structure and stereochemistry of these compounds were established by interpretation of spectral data. Pseudodistomins B-F were found to be active in a cell-based assay for DNA damage induction, but the activity was due to an alternative mechanism.

Isolation and characterization of four polyether antibiotics, X-14889A, B, C, and D, closely related to lysocellin and the ferensimycins.

Streptomyces sp. X-14889 (NRRL 15517) has been found to produce a number of novel polyether antibiotics and an orange pigment. One of the antibiotics, X-14889B (3) was identified as ferensimycin A, which in turn is an isomer of the well-studied polyether antibiotic, lysocellin (1). Of the three other antibiotics, X-14889C (4) is a lower homolog of ferensimycin A and antibiotics X-14889A (2) and D (5) which are respectively the descarboxy and anhydro-descarboxy forms of this same molecule. The latter compound, X-14889D is of interest as it contains an ether bridge across the terminal tetrahydrofuranyl ring in an analogous relationship to that reported earlier for antibiotics X-14873A (6) and G.

In vitro antiviral activity of dammar resin triterpenoids.

Nine triterpenes with antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus types I and II in vitro were isolated from dammar resin. Each compound caused a significant reduction in viral cytopathic effect when Vero cells were exposed continuously to 1-10 micrograms/ml of compound for 48 h after viral challenge. The triterpenes were identified as dammaradienol [1], dammarenediol-II [2], hydroxydammarenone-I [3], ursonic acid [5], hydroxyhopanone [11], dammarenolic acid [15], shoreic acid [16], eichlerianic acid [17], and a novel compound, hydroxyoleanonic lactone [7], on the basis of their chromatographic, spectroscopic, and physical properties.

Isolation and characterization of three novel polyether antibiotics and three novel actinomycins as cometabolites of the same Streptomyces sp. X-14873, ATCC 31679.

Streptomyces sp. X-14873 (ATCC 31679) has been found to produce a number of secondary metabolites. Three have been identified as the novel actinomycins, X-14873B, C and D, each of which contains both proline and 3-hydroxy-5-methylproline. Potentially, the most important microbial product from this fermentation is the novel polyether antibiotic X-14873A which differs from lysocellin only in the substituents at carbons C-4 and C-5 in the tetrahydropyranyl ring. The methyl group and proton in lysocellin are replaced by an ethyl and hydroxyl group, respectively in X-14873A. In addition, two other novel polyethers, X-14873H and G, were isolated and shown to differ from 1 in lacking a carboxyl group and in the case of 3, possessing an ether bridge across the terminal tetrahydrofuranyl ring system.

Isolation and characterization of a novel polyether antibiotic of the pyrrolether class, antibiotic X-14885A.

Antibiotic X-14885A is a polyether antibiotic belonging to the class of these natural acid ionophores known as pyrrolethers. The structure of the antibiotic was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of the hydrated sodium salt, which crystallized as a tetramer containing four antibiotic and water molecules and four atoms of sodium. Antibiotic X-14885A differs from the most well-known member of the class, A-23187, in two respects: the aromatic N-methylamino group present in the latter is replaced by a phenolic hydroxyl, and one of the four aliphatic methyls is replaced by a proton. Antibiotic X-14885A is active against Gram-positive bacteria and the spirochete, Treponema hyodysenteriae.

Preparation, properties and biological activity of natural and semisynthetic urethanes of monensin.

Conversion of the monovalent polyether antibiotic monensin into a series of urethane derivatives substituted at C-26 causes a ten-fold increase in the cation transporting properties of the antibiotic as well as making the resulting semisynthetic urethanes divalent ionophores. These changes must in part account for the enhanced antimicrobial activities of the urethanes. The most active derivatives are the phenylurethanes which are ten times more active in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria and unlike monensin are active against Candida albicans and Penicillium digitatum. Another novel activity exhibited by four of the urethanes was against Plasmodium berghei, the causative agent for malaria.

Isolation of novel antibiotics X-14667A and X-14667B from Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp. urethanofaciens and their characterization as 2-phenethylurethanes of monensins B and A.

Antibiotics X-14667A (1) and X-14667B (2) are novel monovalent polyether antibiotics of the spiroketal type isolated from fermented cultures of Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp. urethanofaciens together with monensin (3), its lower homolog, factor B (4) and 1,3-diphenethylurea (6). By a combination of microanalysis, mass spectrometry and 13C nmr, antibiotics X-14667A and B have been shown to be natural 2-phenethylurethanes of monensin B and A respectively. Both structures have been confirmed by reacting the appropriate monensin with 2-phenethylisocyanate to yield semi-synthetic compounds that are identical to the natural products.

Isolation and characterization of antibiotic X-14547A, a novel monocarboxylic acid ionophore produced by Streptomyces antibioticus NRRL 8167.

A novel carboxylic acid ionophore, antibiotic X-14547A, closely related to the polyether antibiotics has been isolated along with four other metabolites from fermented cultures of a new strain of Streptomyces antibioticus. The structure, determined by X-ray analysis of the R(+)-1-amino-1-(4-bromophenyl)-ethane salt contained pyrrole carbonyl and trans-butadienyl chromophores in addition to the unusual tetrahydroindane bicyclic ring system. A second novel metabolite was identified as 3-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-3-methoxy-2H-indol-2-one.