Isolation, structure elucidation, relative LC-MS response, and in vitro toxicity of azaspiracids from the dinoflagellate Azadinium spinosum

J Nat Prod. 2014 Nov 26;77(11):2465-74. doi: 10.1021/np500555k. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Abstract

We identified three new azaspiracids (AZAs) with molecular weights of 715, 815, and 829 (AZA33 (3), AZA34 (4), and AZA35, respectively) in mussels, seawater, and Azadinium spinosum culture. Approximately 700 μg of 3 and 250 μg of 4 were isolated from a bulk culture of A. spinosum, and their structures determined by MS and NMR spectroscopy. These compounds differ significantly at the carboxyl end of the molecule from known AZA analogues and therefore provide valuable information on structure-activity relationships. Initial toxicological assessment was performed using an in vitro model system based on Jurkat T lymphocyte cytotoxicity, and the potencies of 3 and 4 were found to be 0.22- and 5.5-fold that of AZA1 (1), respectively. Thus, major changes in the carboxyl end of 1 resulted in significant changes in toxicity. In mussel extracts, 3 was detected at low levels, whereas 4 and AZA35 were detected only at extremely low levels or not at all. The structures of 3 and 4 are consistent with AZAs being biosynthetically assembled from the amino end.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dinoflagellida / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells / drug effects*
  • Marine Toxins / chemistry
  • Marine Toxins / isolation & purification*
  • Marine Toxins / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Spiro Compounds / chemistry
  • Spiro Compounds / isolation & purification*
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Marine Toxins
  • Spiro Compounds
  • azaspiracid