RESUMO
Steroids that take part in the pathways of human steroidogenesis are involved in many biological mechanisms where they interact with calcium. In the present work, the binding selectivities and affinities for calcium of progestagens, mineralocorticoids, androstagens, and estrogens were studied by Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS). The adduct profile of each steroid was characterized by high resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. The relative stability of the most important adducts was studied by threshold collision induced dissociation, E1/2. Doubly-charged steroid-calcium complexes [nM + Ca]2+ with n = 1-6 were predominant in the mass spectra. The adduct [5M + Ca]2+ was the base peak for most 3-keto-steroids, while ligands bearing hindered ketones or α-hydroxy-ketones also yielded [nM + Ca + mH2O]2+ with n = 3-4 and m = 0-1. Principal component analysis allowed us to spot the main differences and similarities in the binding behavior of these steroids. The isomers testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, androstanolone and epiandrosterone, and 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone showed remarkable differences in their adduct profiles. Computational modeling of representative adducts was performed by density functional theory methods. The possible binding modes at low and high numbers of steroid ligands were determined by calcium Gas Phase Affinity, and through modeling of the complexes and comparison of their relative stabilities, in agreement with the experimental results.
Assuntos
Cálcio , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por Electrospray , Humanos , Cálcio/química , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por Electrospray/métodos , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem/métodos , Esteroides , CetonasRESUMO
The host-microbiome associations occurring on the skin of vertebrates significantly influence hosts' health. However, the factors mediating their interactions remain largely unknown. Herein, we used integrated technical and ecological frameworks to investigate the skin metabolites sustaining a beneficial symbiosis between tree frogs and bacteria. We characterize macrocyclic acylcarnitines as the major metabolites secreted by the frogs' skin and trace their origin to an enzymatic unbalance of carnitine palmitoyltransferases. We found that these compounds colocalize with bacteria on the skin surface and are mostly represented by members of the Pseudomonas community. We showed that Pseudomonas sp. MPFS isolated from frogs' skin can exploit acylcarnitines as its sole carbon and nitrogen source, and this metabolic capability is widespread in Pseudomonas. We summarize frogs' multiple mechanisms to filter environmental bacteria and highlight that acylcarnitines likely evolved for another function but were co-opted to provide nutritional benefits to the symbionts.
RESUMO
Chemical investigation of the extract of the macroscopic fungus Beenakia informis led to the isolation of a previously unreported γ-pyrone and two new isoprenylated cyclohexanoids, together with speciocin N. Their structures were elucidated spectroscopically and the absolute configuration was determined by comparison of the experimental vs. calculated ECD curves. Three of the compounds showed very good to moderate activity against phytopathogenic fungi.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos , Basidiomycota , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Antifúngicos/química , Pironas/química , Estrutura Molecular , FungosRESUMO
Amphibians have a great diversity of bioactive peptides in their skin. The cDNA prepro-peptide sequencing allowed the identification of five novel mature peptides expressed in the skin of Boana pulchella, four with similar sequences to hylin peptides having a cationic amphipathic-helical structure. Whole mature peptides and some of their fragments were chemically-synthesized and tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The mature peptide hylin-Pul3 was the most active, with a MIC= 14 µM against Staphylococcus aureus. Circular dichroism assays indicated that peptides are mostly unstructured in buffer solutions. Still, adding large unilamellar vesicles composed of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol increased the α-helix content of novel hylins. These results demonstrate the strong influence of the environment on peptide conformation and highlight its significance while addressing the pharmacology of peptides and their biological function in frogs.
Assuntos
Anuros , Peptídeos , Animais , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Peptídeos/química , Lipídeos , Dicroísmo CircularRESUMO
The Antarctic fungus Cadophora malorum produces previously undescribed cyclic heptapeptides (cadophorin A and B) containing an anthranilic acid residue. The planar structure of these peptides was determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configuration of the amino acids was determined by Marfey's method, with HPLC analysis of FDVA (Nα-(2,4-dinitro-5-fluorphenyl)-L-valinamide) derivatives making use of a PFP column. Remarkably, cadophorin 2 possesses both the uncommon D-Ile and D-allo-Ile in its structure. The peptides have metal binding properties as shown by LCMS with post column addition of metal salt solutions. These results were supported by DFT calculations.
RESUMO
In this work, we describe how stereochemically complex polycyclic compounds can be generated by applying a synthetic sequence comprising an intramolecular Ugi reaction followed by a Pictet-Spengler cyclization on steroid-derived scaffolds. The resulting compounds, which combine a fragment derived from a natural product and a scaffold not found in nature. are both structurally distinct and globally similar to natural products at the same time, and interrogate an alternative region of the chemical space. One of the new compounds showed significant antiproliferative activity on HepG2 cells through a caspase-independent cell-death mechanism, an appealing feature when new antitumor compounds are searched.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologia , Caspases/metabolismo , Isoquinolinas/farmacologia , Piperazinas/farmacologia , Esteroides/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Antineoplásicos/química , Produtos Biológicos/síntese química , Produtos Biológicos/química , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Isoquinolinas/síntese química , Isoquinolinas/química , Estrutura Molecular , Piperazinas/síntese química , Piperazinas/química , Estereoisomerismo , Esteroides/síntese química , Esteroides/químicaRESUMO
Five new lanostanoid triterpenes were isolated from the extract of R. microporus. Three of the metabolites (1-3) present a Δ8,9 skeleton with an uncommon keto functionality at C-1. Another compound (4) has an unprecedented rearranged skeleton in which methyl-19 was transposed to C-1, with conjugated double bonds at Δ1-10 and Δ8-9. All of the compounds have hydroxylated or furane-cyclized side-chains. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of the hydroxyl-bearing carbon in the side chain of compound 5 was established in silico. The metabolites were evaluated for their antifungal activity and the bioactivity as agonist/antagonists of the liver X receptors (LXRs). Compound 4 presents antifungal activity and compounds 3 and 5 are the agonists of LXRs.
Assuntos
Triterpenos , Fungos , Lanosterol/análogos & derivados , Estrutura Molecular , Polyporales , Triterpenos/farmacologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: An efficient characterisation of metabolites is a crucial task in many aspects of basic research, such as the de-replication of crude extracts in natural products chemistry or the tentative identification of compounds in untargeted metabolomics. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is the evaluation of the reaction with phenylhydrazine for the derivatisation post-column in situ of carbonyl-containing compounds in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: LC-MS was performed using electrospray, Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) or Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization (APPI) as ionisation techniques. The post-column addition of phenylhydrazine was done through a syringe pump via a T-junction before entrance to the ion source. RESULTS: A variety of natural products having carbonyl groups, such as cycloartanes, steroids, cardenolides and other terpenoids, were analysed by this method. In the case of compounds with non-hindered aldehyde or keto groups, the main signals of the mass spectra were those corresponding to the phenylhydrazones. However, the spectra of compounds with hindered carbonyl groups displayed mainly those signals corresponding to the product of the nucleophilic addition adduct of phenylhydrazine to the carbonyl, which is the first step of the derivatisation process. Finally, those compounds with conjugated ketones did not react with phenylhydrazine. This methodology was applied in the analysis of crude natural extracts. CONCLUSION: The results show that in situ derivatisation of carbonyl compounds in the ionisation source was achieved, yielding the typical derivatives of carbonyl compounds with phenylhydrazine.
Assuntos
Produtos Biológicos , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem , Pressão Atmosférica , Cromatografia Líquida , Metabolômica , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por ElectrosprayRESUMO
Cryptococcus species are responsible for important systemic mycosis and are estimated to cause millions of new cases annually. The available therapy is limited due to the high toxicity and the increasing rates of yeast resistance to antifungal drugs. Popularly known as "sucará," Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) is a native plant from Brazil with little information on its pharmacological potential. In this work, we evaluated in vitro anticryptococcal effects of the leaf ethanolic extract of X. prockia and its fractions against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. We also evaluated phenotypic alterations caused by ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (chosen according to its biological results). The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of EAF demonstrated the presence of phenolic metabolites that belong to three structurally related groups as majority compounds: caffeoylquinic acid, coumaroyl-glucoside, and caffeoyl-glucoside/deoxyhexosyl-caffeoyl glucoside derivatives. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against C. gattii and C. neoformans ranged from 8 to 64 mg/L and from 0.5 to 8 mg/L, for ethanolic extract and EAF, respectively. The EAF triggered an oxidative burst and promoted lipid peroxidation. EAF also induced a reduction of ergosterol content in the pathogen cell membrane. These effects were not associated with alterations in the cell surface charge or in the thermodynamic fingerprint of the molecular interaction between EAF and the yeasts evaluated. Cytotoxic experiments with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated that EAF was more selective for yeasts than was PBMCs. The results may provide evidence that X. prockia leaf extract might indeed be a potential source of antifungal agents.
RESUMO
Peptides from skin secretions of amphibians are considered important components of their immune system and also play a relevant role in their defense mechanism against predators. Herein, by using mass spectrometry (MS), we characterize the sequence of 13 peptides from the gland secretion of the hylid tree frog, Boana punctata. Using in situ matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging MS of a transverse section of the skin tissue, we show that some peptides are stored as longer molecules that are cleaved after being secreted, whereas others do not undergo any modification. Sequence comparison with peptides from other Boana species and analysis of the three-dimensional theoretical structure indicate that this cleavage depends on both the presence of a specific sequence motif and the secondary structure. The fact that peptides undergo a rapid cleavage upon secretion suggests that stored and secreted peptides may have distinct roles for anuran survival, including defense against pathogens and predators.