A likely biogenetic gateway linking 2-aminoimidazolinone metabolites of sponges to proline: spontaneous oxidative conversion of the pyrrole-proline-guanidine pseudo-peptide to dispacamide A

J Am Chem Soc. 2004 Aug 25;126(33):10252-3. doi: 10.1021/ja047574e.

Abstract

A new spontaneous oxidative transformation of the associated pyrrole-proline-guanidine to the natural marine pyrrole 2-aminoimidazolinone derivative has been achieved. The sensitive reaction requires air oxygen and the N-acylation of proline by pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid. Proline metabolism and pyrrole 2-aminoimidazole secondary metabolites formation seem to be related and are utilized by sponges under stress conditions for their defense against predators. A plausible stress-induced oxidative chemical pathway that establishes dispacamide derivatives as the forerunners in the biogenetic synthesis of the key pyrrole 2-aminoimidazole oroidin is proposed. The mechanism of the reaction seems to be another development of the known luciferins' chemiluminescent reactions in bioluminescent marine organisms.

MeSH terms

  • Amination
  • Animals
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry
  • Guanidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Imidazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Imidazoles / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Porifera / metabolism*
  • Proline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Peptides
  • Pyrroles
  • 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid
  • 2-aminoimidazole
  • Proline
  • Guanidine