Brasilicardin A, a natural immunosuppressant, targets amino Acid transport system L.

Lymphocytes in T cell activation require extracellular nutrients to provide energy for cellular proliferation and effector functions. Therefore, inhibitors of nutrient transporters are expected to be a new class of immunosuppressant. Here, we report that the molecular target of brasilicardin A (BraA), an immunosuppressive compound, is the amino acid transporter system L. BraA inhibited the cell-cycle progression of murine T cell lymphocyte CTLL-2 cells in G1 phase, and potently inhibited the uptake of amino acids that are substrates for amino acid transport system L. Moreover, BraA stimulated the GCN2 activation and, subsequently, the phosphorylation of eIF2alpha. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive activity of BraA is induced by amino acid deprivation via the inhibition of system L and that the amino acid transporter is a target for immunosuppressant.

Cladionol A, a polyketide glycoside from marine-derived fungus Gliocladium species.

A new polyketide glycoside, cladionol A (1), was isolated from the cultured broth of a fungus Gliocladium sp., which was separated from sea grass Syringodium isoetifolium, and the structure was elucidated by spectroscopic data. The relative stereochemistry of C-2-C-3 was assigned by mainly J-based configuration analysis, while those of two sugar units were elucidated to be beta-mannopyranoside and arabitol on the basis of NOESY data and/or 1H-1H couplings. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of the mannose moiety was determined as the D-form on the basis of chiral HPLC analysis of a benzoyl derivative of the acid hydrolysate of 1. Cladionol A (1) exhibited modest cytotoxicity.

SAR studies of brasilicardin A for immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities.

Eleven derivatives (5-13, 15, and 16) of an immunosuppressive and cytotoxic tricyclic terpenoid, brasilicardin A (1), were prepared and assayed for inhibitory effects to the mouse mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and seven human tumor cell lines. The 17N-methyl form (8) of 1 showed the most potent immunosuppressive activity in mouse MLR, while induction of more bulky group for N-17 resulted in significant decrease of the activity. Compound 8 also showed potent cytotoxic activity against DLD-1, Lu-65, A549, K562, and MOLT-4 cells, while the benzyl ester (13) of 1 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against K562, MOLT-4, and jarkat leukemia cell lines. The 17N-acetyl derivative (11) of 1 selectively inhibited the cell growth of DLD-1 cells. The methyl ester (5) of 1 showed potent cytotoxic activity against K562, MOLT-4, and Ball-1 cell lines, the last of which was resistant to 1, 8, and 13.

Scalusamides A-C, new pyrrolidine alkaloids from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum.

Three new pyrrolidine alkaloids, scalusamides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from the gastrointestine of a marine fish, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of C-2 in the pyrrolidine unit was determined by HPLC analysis of a Marfey's derivative of the hydrolysate of 1, while that of 2 and 3 was assigned by comparison of spectroscopic data of 3 and reductive products of 1 and 2. On the other hand, each of 1-3 was found to be a mixture of epimers at C-7. Scalusamide A (1) exhibited antifungal and antibacterial activities.

Brasilicardins B-D, new tricyclic terpenoids [correction of terpernoids] from actinomycete Nocardia brasiliensis.

Three new tricyclic terpenoids, brasilicardins B-D (2-4), were isolated together with brasilicardin A (1), a potent immunosuppressive compound, from the cultured broth of a pathogenic actinomycete Nocardia brasiliensis IFM0406, and the structures and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic data and a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities of 2-4 were examined in the comparison with 1.

Citrinadin A, a novel pentacyclic alkaloid from marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum.

[structure: see text] A novel pentacyclic alkaloid, citrinadin A (1), was isolated from the cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from a marine red alga, and the structure was elucidated by spectroscopic data. The relative stereochemistry of the pentacyclic core was assigned on the basis of NOESY data and (1)H-(1)H coupling constants, and the presence of an N,N-dimethyl-L-valine residue in 1 was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of the hydrolysate.

Absolute stereochemistry of immunosuppressive macrolide brasilinolide A and its new congener brasilinolide C.

Brasilinolide A (2) is a 32-membered polyhydroxyl macrolide with immunosuppressive activity isolated from a pathogenic actinomycete, Nocardia brasiliensis IFM0406. The absolute configurations at 26 chiral centers of 2 and its new congener, brasilinolide C (1), were determined on the basis of the spectral data of 1 and degradation products derived from 1 and 2.

Modiolides A and B, two new 10-membered macrolides from a marine-derived fungus.

Two new 10-membered macrolides, modiolides A (1) and B (2), and a new linear pentaketide, modiolin (3), were isolated from the cultured broth of a fungus Paraphaeosphaeria sp. (N-119), which was separated from a marine horse mussel, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data.