Pyrenophoric acid, a phytotoxic sesquiterpenoid penta-2,4-dienoic acid produced by a potential mycoherbicide, pyrenophora semeniperda

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/np4009915

A new phytotoxic sesquiterpenoid penta-2,4-dienoic acid, named pyrenophoric acid, was isolated from solid wheat seed culture of Pyrenophora semeniperda, a fungal pathogen proposed as a mycoherbicide for biocontrol of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and other annual bromes. These bromes are serious weeds in winter cereals and also on temperate semiarid rangelands. Pyrenophoric acid was characterized as (2Z,4E)-5-[(7S,9S,10R,12R)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2,6- trimethylcyclohexyl)]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The relative stereochemistry of pyrenophoric acid was assigned using ¹H,¹H couplings and NOESY experiments, while its absolute configuration was determined by applying the advanced Moshers method. Pyrenophoric acid is structurally quite closely related to the plant growth regulator abscisic acid. When bioassayed in a cheatgrass coleoptile elongation test at 10^-3 M, pyrenophoric acid showed strong phytotoxicity, reducing coleoptile elongation by 51% relative to the control. In a mixture at 10^-4 M, its negative effect on coleoptile elongation was additive with that of cytochalasin B, another phytotoxic compound found in the wheat seed culture extract of this fungus, demonstrating that the extract toxicity observed in earlier studies was due to the combined action of multiple phytotoxic compounds.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/np4009915

Article
pubs.acs.org/jnp
Pyrenophoric Acid, a Phytotoxic Sesquiterpenoid Penta-2,4-dienoic
Acid Produced by a Potential Mycoherbicide, Pyrenophora
semeniperda
Marco Masi,†,‡ Susan Meyer,§ Alessio Cimmino,† Anna Andolfi,† and Antonio Evidente*,†
†Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Universita
80126 Napoli, Italy
̀
di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’ Angelo, Via Cintia 4,
‡Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84601, United States
§U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, 735 North 500 East, Provo, Utah 84606, United
States
S
* Supporting Information
ABSTRACT: A new phytotoxic sesquiterpenoid penta-2,4-
dienoic acid, named pyrenophoric acid, was isolated from solid
wheat seed culture of Pyrenophora semeniperda, a fungal
pathogen proposed as a mycoherbicide for biocontrol of
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and other annual bromes. These
bromes are serious weeds in winter cereals and also on
temperate semiarid rangelands. Pyrenophoric acid was
characterized as (2Z,4E)-5-[(7S,9S,10R,12R)-3,4-dihydroxy-
2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid by
spectroscopic and chemical methods. The relative stereo-
1
chemistry of pyrenophoric acid was assigned using H,1H couplings and NOESY experiments, while its absolute configuration
was determined by applying the advanced Mosher’s method. Pyrenophoric acid is structurally quite closely related to the plant
growth regulator abscisic acid. When bioassayed in a cheatgrass coleoptile elongation test at 10−3 M, pyrenophoric acid showed
strong phytotoxicity, reducing coleoptile elongation by 51% relative to the control. In a mixture at 10−4 M, its negative effect on
coleoptile elongation was additive with that of cytochalasin B, another phytotoxic compound found in the wheat seed culture
extract of this fungus, demonstrating that the extract toxicity observed in earlier studies was due to the combined action of
multiple phytotoxic compounds.
that the fungus produced a large amount of the phytotoxic
cytochalasin B, as well as cytochalasin A, cytochalasin F,
deoxaphomin, and the three novel cytochalasins, Z1, Z2, and
Z3.5 The production of these same compounds was confirmed
working with solid cultures of 10 strains collected from three
Utah (USA) populations, and a rapid and sensitive HPLC
method for quantification of cytochalasin B in the organic
extracts was developed.6 In a B. tectorum coleoptile bioassay
carried out as part of this study, solid culture extracts at a
concentration equivalent to 10−3 M cytochalasin B exhibited
significantly higher toxicity (8−18% of control) than the
cytochalasin B standard (34% of control). This suggested the
possible presence of other phytotoxic metabolites, later
confirmed by preliminary TLC investigations of organic
extracts of the most active strains.
Pyrenophora semeniperda (Brittlebank and Adams) Shoemaker
is a naturally occurring ascomycete seed pathogen that has been
proposed as a potential biocontrol agent against cheatgrass
(Bromus tectorum L.) and other annual bromes.1 Cheatgrass,
also known as downy brome, is an exotic winter annual grass
weed that causes serious losses in intensive agriculture,
particularly in winter cereal crops.2 B. tectorum has also invaded
millions of hectares of semiarid rangeland in western North
America and is a major contributing cause of wildfires, which
have immense economic and environmental costs.3
The research reported here is the latest in a series of studies
carried out to determine whether P. semeniperda can produce
novel bioactive metabolites with potential herbicidal activity.
Most recently, a novel spirocyclic γ-lactam, named spirosta-
phylotrichin W, was isolated together with the well-known and
closely related spirostaphylotrichins A, C, D, R, and V, as well
as triticone E, from potato dextrose broth cultures of P.
semeniperda. The structure and biological characterization of the
new spirostaphylotrichin W has been described.4
This paper reports on the chemical and biological character-
ization of a new sesquiterpenoid 2,4-dienoic acid with potential
herbicidal activity produced by P. semeniperda in solid wheat
seed culture. The new compound is named pyrenophoric acid
P. semeniperda is also able to produce phytotoxins belonging
to a different class of natural compounds when grown in solid
culture on wheat seeds. Studies of an Australian strain revealed
Received: November 29, 2013
Published: March 18, 2014
© 2014 American Chemical Society and
American Society of Pharmacognosy
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because of its structural similarity to the well-known plant
growth regulator abscisic acid.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
■
The P. semeniperda strain WRR10-16, one of the most active
strains in the B. tectorum coleoptile bioassay,6 was again
cultured on wheat, and the culture was extracted as described in
the Experimental Section. A large quantity of cytochalasin B
was first crystallized from the organic extract, after which the
remaining mother liquors were fractionated by column
chromatography. Cytochalasin F, cytochalasin Z3, and
deoxaphomin as well as an additional quantity of cytochalasin
B were detected in four relatively nonpolar fractions. The fifth
fraction of the initial chromatography was further purified on
TLC, yielding another more polar metabolite, which showed a
molecular formula of C15H24O4 as deduced from its HRESIMS,
consistent with four hydrogen deficiencies. These results,
Figure 1. Structures of pyrenophoric acid (1), its acetylated derivatives
(3 and 4), and the 10-O-S-MTPA and 10-O-R-MTPA esters (5 and 6)
of its methyl ester (2).
combined with investigations of its H and 13C NMR spectra
1
(Table 1), showed that it was different from any cytochalasin or
trisubstituted and the disubstituted olefinic groups were
determined to be bonded, respectively, to the carboxylic
group and to a secondary carbon observed at δ 55.7 (HC-7) by
the long-range couplings observed in the HMBC spectrum11
(Table 1) between C-1 and H-2, of both C-4 and C-5 to H-7,
and of C-7 with H-4 and H-5. The fragment C-1−C-4 appeared
to be the tail of the sesquiterpenoid moiety, while the other two
isoprene residues were rearranged into a 1,2,2,3,4,6-hexasub-
stituted cyclohexane ring, which represents the remaining
unsaturation, with the bond between C-5 and C-7 representing
the junction between the ring and the 3-methylpenta-2,4-
dienoic acid side chain.
1
Table 1. H and 13C NMR Data for Pyrenophoric Acid
ab
,
(1)
c
position
δC
δH (J in Hz)
5.67 (1H) s
HMBC
1
2
3
4
5
169.1 C
H-2
115.0 CH
153.0 C
H-4, Me-6
H-2, H-4, H-5, Me-6
H-2, H-5, H-7, Me-6
H-7
131.1 CH
136.7 CH
7.53 (1H) d (15.9)
6.10 (1H) dd (15.9,
10.9)
d
6
7
21.5 CH3 2.03 (3H) d (0.93)
H-2, H-4
In the COSY spectrum,11 the singlet of the olefinic proton
H-2 at δ 5.67 coupled with a typical allylic constant (J = 0.93
Hz)7,12 with the methyl Me-6 appearing as a doublet at δ 2.03.
The olefinic proton H-5, appearing as a double doublet (J =
15.9 and 10.9 Hz) at δ 6.10, was trans-coupled with the other
olefinic proton H-4, with a doublet (J = 15.9 Hz) at δ 7.53, and
also with the proton (H-7) of a secondary carbon (C-7)
resonating as a double doublet (J = 10.9 and 3.87 Hz) at δ 2.19.
The latter was also coupled with the proton (H-12) of another
secondary carbon (C-12), which appeared as a complex
multiplet at δ 2.38. H-12 coupled both with the adjacent
methyl group (Me-15), resonating as a doublet (J = 7.0 Hz) at
δ 0.83, and with the protons of the adjacent methylene group
(H2C-11) resonating as a double triplet (J = 14.6, 3.7 Hz) and a
doublet of double doublets (J = 14.6, 12.1, 3.7 Hz) at δ 1.78
and 1.51, respectively. The latter in turn coupled with the
proton (H-10) of a secondary hydroxylated carbon resonating
as a quartet (J = 3.7 Hz) at δ 4.09, being also coupled with the
proton (H-9) of the adjacent secondary hydroxylated carbon
(C-9). As expected, H-9 resonated as a doublet (J = 3.7 Hz) at
δ 3.48, being bonded to the quaternary carbon C-8 bearing two
methyl groups (Me-13 and M-14), which resonated as two
singlets at δ 1.16 and 0.92, respectively. The latter results were
confirmed by the long-range couplings observed in the HMBC
spectrum of C-8 with H-9 and Me-13 and of Me-14 and C-9
with the same two methyl groups. The long-range couplings
observed in the same spectrum from C-8, C-9, and C-12 to H-7
and from C-7 to Me-13, Me-14, and Me-15 also demonstrated
that C-7 is the closing point of the cyclohexane ring, which, as
above-reported, bears the penta-2,4-dienoic acid side chain.7,8
Inspection of the HSQC spectrum11 allowed the assignment
of the chemical shifts to the remaining protonated carbons at δ
75.1, 38.7, 27.8, 25.8, 23.7, and 19.6 to C-9, C-8, C-14, C-12, C-
55.7 CH
2.19 (1H) dd (10.9, 3.8) H-4, H-5, Me-13, Me-14,
Me-15
8
38.7 C
H-5, H-7, H-9, Me-13,
Me-14
9
75.1 CH
70.1 CH
3.48 (1H) d (3.7)
4.09 (1H) q (3.7)
H-7, Me-13, Me-14
OH
10
11
38.7 CH2 1.78 (1H) dt (14.6, 3.7) H-7, Me-15
1.51 (1H) ddd (14.6,
12.1, 3.7)
12
25.8 CH
2.38 (1H) m
H-7, Me-15
H-9, Me-14
H-9, Me-13
13
23.7 CH3 1.16 (3H) s
27.8 CH3 0.92 (3H) s
19.6 CH3 0.83 (3H) d (7.0)
3.65 bs
14
15
OH
a
b
1
The chemical shifts are in δ values (ppm) from TMS. 2D H,1H
(COSY) and 13C,1H (HSQC) NMR experiments delineated the
correlations of all the protons and the corresponding carbons.
c
d
Multiplicities were assigned by DEPT spectrum. This is allylic
coupled with H-2.
spirostaphylotrichin, but that it was a sesquiterpenoid, and,
being new as described below, was named pyrenophoric acid
(1, Figure 1).
The 1H and 13C NMR spectra for the new compound
showed the presence of the signal typical of an acid carbonyl
group at δ 169.1/C (C-1) and those of Z-trisubstituted and E-
disubstituted double bonds at δ 5.67/115.0 CH and 153.0 C
(HC-2 and C-3), and 7.53 d/131.1 CH and 6.10 dd/136.7 CH
(HC-4 and HC-5).7,8 These results are in agreement with the
typical bands for hydroxy, acid carbonyl, and olefinic groups
observed in the IR spectrum9 and the absorption maxima at
257 nm exhibited in the UV spectrum, typical of an extended
conjugated α,β-unsaturated acid carbonyl group.10 The
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a
1
Table 2. H NMR Data for Pyrenophoric Acid Derivatives (2−6)
2
3
4
5
6
position
δH (J in Hz)
5.64 s
δH (J in Hz)
5.67 s
δH (J in Hz)
5.69 s
δH (J in Hz)
5.716 s
δH (J in Hz)
5.723 s
2
4
7.55 d (15.3)
6.05 dd (15.3, 10.9)
1.99 s
7.54 d (15.5)
6.14 dd (15.5, 10.8)
2.05 s
7.56 d (15.5)
6.12 dd (15.5, 10.9)
2.06 s
6.069 d (14.9)
5.963 dd (14.9, 10.7)
2.263 s
6.087 d (15.0)
5
5.971 dd (15.0, 10.7)
2.267 s
6
7
2.18 brd (10.9)
3.66 d (5.8)
4.09 brs
2.18 brd (10.8)
4.83 brs
2.24 dd (10.9, 3.9)
4.81 d (3.4)
5.36 q (3.4)
1.70 brd (14.4)
1.57 m
1.984 brd (10.7)
3.638 d (3.5)
5.348 q (3.5)
1.903 m
2.031 dd (10.7, 3.0)
3.690 d (3.2)
5.419 q (3.2)
1.844 dt (15.3, 3.2)
1.619 m
9
10
11
4.14 brs
1.77 brd (14.6)
1.42 brdd (14.6, 6.6)
2.37 m
1.76 brd (14.2)
1.53 brdd (14.2, 13.3)
2.46 m
1.740 m
12
2.37 m
2.221 m
2.146 m
13
1.15 s
1.24 s
1.19 s
0.862 s
0.832 s
14
0.92 s
0.80 s
0.83 s
0.862 s
0.760 s
15
0.83 d (7.0)
3.70 s
0.83 d (6.7)
0.84 d (7.7)
0.691 d (6.4)
3.705 s
0.788 d (6.9)
3.710 s
OMe
MeCO
MeCO
OMe
Ph
2.15 s
2.07 s
2.04 s
3.566 s
3.586 s
7.561−7.409
7.550−7.432
a
The chemical shifts are in δ values (ppm) from TMS.
13, and C-15, accounting for the chemical shifts to all the
protons and corresponding carbons of pyrenophoric acid as
reported in Table 1. On the basis of these results pyrenophoric
acid was formulated as 5-(3,4-dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclo-
hexyl)]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid (1, Figure 1).
observed between H-10 with H2-11 allowed the equatorial
localization of both H-11a and H-10. Finally, the coupling
between H-12 and H-7 allowed the equatorial localization of
the latter proton. These results were confirmed by the
correlations observed in the NOESY spectrum (Table 3)
This structure was supported by several other long-range
couplings observed in the HMBC spectrum (Table 1) and by
the HRESIMS data. Indeed, this latter spectrum recorded in
positive mode showed the ammonium cluster [M + NH4]+ at
m/z 286.2014, while when the same spectrum was recorded in
negative mode, the pseudomolecular ion [M − H]− was
recorded at m/z 267.1446.
Table 3. NOESY Data for Pyrenophoric Acid (1)
irradiated
H-2
observed
irradiated
H-11b
observed
Me-6
H-7
H-5, H-9, H-10, H-11a
Me-15
H-4
H-5
H-12
Me-6
H-7, H-11a, Me-13,
Me-15
The structure assigned to 1 was confirmed by preparing the
corresponding methyl ester (2, Figure 1) by reaction with an
ethereal solution of diazomethane. The IR spectrum of 2
showed the lack of bands due to a hydroxy carboxylic group
and the presence of the bands of the ester groups.9 Its 1H NMR
(Table 2) spectrum differed from that of 1 by the presence of
the singlet of the methyl ester group observed at δ 3.70. The
ESIMS spectrum of 2 showed the sodium cluster [M + Na]+ at
m/z 305. Pyrenophoric acid was also converted into the 9-O-
acetyl and 9,10-O,O′-diacetyl derivatives (3 and 4, Figure 1) by
routine acetylation with pyridine and acetic anhydride. The IR
spectrum of 3 and 4 showed the presence of the band typical of
H-7, H-9, H-11b, Me-6, Me-
14, Me-15
H-2, H-5
H-7
H-4, H-5, H-12, Me-13
H-5, H-10, H-11b, Me-14
H-9, H−11b
Me-13
Me-14
Me-15
H-12
H-9
H-9
H-10
H-11a
H-11b, H-12
H-11b, H-12
between H-11b and Me-15; H-10 and H-11b; H-11a and H-12;
and H-12 and H-7. In addition the correlation of H-9 with H-
10 allowed the axial localization of H-9. Furthermore, the
double bond located between C-4 and C-5 exhibited an E-
stereochemistry as deduced from the typical trans-coupling
1
constant of 15.6 Hz7,12 measured in the H NMR spectrum
1
the acetyl groups. Their H NMR spectrum (Table 2) differed
from that of 1 only by the downfield shift (Δδ 0.35) of H-9 in 3
resonating as a broad singlet at δ 4.83 and by the downfield
shift (Δδ 0.33 and 1.27) of H-9 and H-10 in 4, appearing as a
doublet (J = 3.4 Hz) and quartet (J = 3.4 Hz) at δ 4.81 and
5.36. Furthermore, the presence of the singlets of the acetyl
groups was observed at δ 2.15 in 3 and 2.07 and 2.04 in 4,
respectively. Their HRESIMS spectra recorded in positive
mode showed ammonium clusters [M + NH4]+ at m/z
328.2152 and m/z 370.2265, respectively.
(Table 1). A Z-stereochemistry was assigned to the other
double bond between C-2 and C-3 of the side chain on the
basis of the correlation observed in the NOESY spectrum
(Table 3) between H-2 and Me-6. The relative stereochemistry
therefore was assigned to 1 as depicted in Figure 1. This
stereochemistry was also in agreement with an inspection of its
Drieding model. On the basis of these results, pyrenophoric
acid was formulated as (2Z,4E)-5-[(7S*,9S*,10R*,12R*)-3,4-
dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)]-3-methylpenta-2,4-di-
enoic acid.
The relative configuration of 1 was deduced from
investigation of the coupling constants and the correlations
The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by applying
an advanced Mosher’s method.13 Pyrenophoric acid was treated
with R-(−)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl (MTPA)
and S-(+)-MTPA chlorides, to convert 1 into the correspond-
11
1
observed in its H NMR and NOESY spectra. In fact the
coupling observed between H-11b and H-12 (Table 1) allowed
the axial localization of these two protons, and the coupling
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Journal of Natural Products
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ing diastereomeric esters. Surprisingly, 1 was converted into the
corresponding diastereomeric S-MTPA and R-MTPA mono-
esters at C-10 (5 and 6, respectively), but the esterification of
the carboxylic group also occurred, as confirmed by the
presence in the 1H NMR spectra of both 5 and 6 of the typical
singlet of the methyl ester group at δ 3.705 and 3.710,
respectively, which is essentially the same chemical shift
observed in 2. The esterification of the carboxylic group was
probably due to the acidic nature of 1 and to the use of
methanol in the reaction procedure. The spectroscopic data for
the S-MPTA and R-MTPA esters (5 and 6, respectively) were
consistent with the structure assigned to 1. Subtracting the
chemical shift of the protons (Table 2) of the 10-O-R-MTPA
(6) from that of 10-O-S-MTPA (5) esters, the Δδ (5/6) values
for all of the protons were determined as reported in Figure 2.
rganisms,14−16 some with significant phytotoxic activity.17 In
addition to many other functions in plants, abscisic acid
regulates important physiological and developmental processes
associated with seeds, including the induction of desiccation
tolerance, storage product deposition, and dormancy.18 This
suggests that 1 could perhaps function to impose dormancy as
part of the pathogenesis on host seeds.
Abscisic acid (ABA) has also been detected in many species
of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes.19,20 The biosynthesis and
the metabolism of abscisic acid and related compounds have
been extensively studied during the last 10 years.18,21−23 Several
abscisic acid derivatives have also been synthesized for SAR
study24 and with the aim of enhancing synchrony of
germination and emergence in plants.25 Compounds related
to ABA have also been isolated from both plants and fungi.
Among these, three compounds, namely, 5-(3S*,8S*-dihy-
droxy-1R*,5S*-dimethyl-7-oxa-6-oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl)-, 5-
(3R*,4R*,8S*-trihydroxy-1R*,5S*-dimethyl-7-oxa-6-
oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl)-, and 5-(3R*,4R*,8S*-trihydroxy-
1R*,5S*-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl)-3-methyl-
2Z,4E-pentadienoic acid isolated from Prunus domestica L., are
very closely related to pyrenophoric acid.26 Furthermore, the
functional groups joined with the cyclohexane ring of
pyrenophoric acid indicate a structural relationship with
megastigmane derivatives isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyl-
lum Makino and Ginkgo biloba L.27,28
Coleoptile elongation bioassays using cheatgrass host seeds
were carried out to determine (a) whether pyrenophoric acid
exhibits phytotoxic activity, (b) whether pyrenophoric acid in
combination with cytochalasin B exhibits either additive or
synergistic toxicity effects, and (c) how the activity of
pyrenophoric acid compares with the activity of abscisic acid.
The effect of pyrenophoric acid at 10−3 and 10−4 M was
compared with abscisic acid at similar concentrations, with
cytochalasin B at 10−4 M, and with a mixture of pyrenophoric
acid and cytochalasin B each at 10−4 M (Figure 3). Abscisic acid
resulted in by far the most dramatic effect regardless of
concentration; it completely inhibited postgermination coleop-
tile and radicle elongation, though germination (indicated by
radicle protrusion) did occur, albeit belatedly (data not shown).
Pyrenophoric acid also showed clear toxicity, reducing
coleoptile length relative to the control by approximately half
Figure 2. Structures of 10-O-S- and 10-O-R-MTPA esters of
pyrenophoric acid (5 and 6, respectively), reporting the Δδ value
obtained by comparison (5/6) of each proton system.
The positive Δδ values were located on the right side, and
those with negative values on the left side of model A as
reported in Othani et al. (1989).13 This model allowed the
assignment of the R-configuration at C-10. Consequently, the
S-configuration was assigned to C-7 and C-9, and the R-
configuration was assigned to C-12. 1 was therefore formulated
as (2Z,4E)-5-[(7S,9S,10R,12R)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2,6-(trimethyl-
cyclohexyl)]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid.
Pyrenophoric acid is closely related to the well-known
phytohormone abscisic acid. Both belong to the sesquiterpe-
noid class of natural compounds, which includes different
bioactive metabolites produced by plants, fungi, and micro-
Figure 3. Results of a cheatgrass coleoptile elongation bioassay for pyrenophoric acid (PAC) at 10−3 and 10−4 M, for cytochalasin B (CytoB) at 10−4
M, for a mixture of pyrenophoric acid and cytochalasin B each at 10−4 M, and for ABA at 10−3 and 10−4 M. Mixed model ANOVA (excluding the
ABA treatments, which resulted in complete suppression of coleoptile elongation) indicated that all treatments were significantly different from the
control and from each other at p < 0.001. Error bars represent standard errors of the mean (n = 18 seeds).
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at 10−3 M and by 23% at 10−4 M. Cytochalasin B at 10−4
M
tested for germinability, and stored dry at laboratory temperature in
snap-cap vials.6
reduced coleoptile elongation 15%, and the combination of
pyrenophoric acid and cytochalasin B at 10−4 M reduced
coleoptile elongation 36% relative to the control. This indicates
that these two compounds exhibit an additive rather than a
synergistic toxicity effect, as the combined effect was essentially
the sum of the effects of the two compounds applied singly.
The phytotoxicity of pyrenophoric acid helps explain why
organic extract phytotoxicity was not correlated with
cytochalasin B concentration in the earlier study.6
In order to fully understand how the complex mixture of
phytotoxins in the solid culture extracts of this fungus acts on
seeds, quantification of pyrenophoric acid, of other cytochala-
sins, and of any other possible metabolites still not
characterized would be necessary, in addition to the
quantification of cytochalasin B already accomplished. Addi-
tional bioassays using mixtures of pyrenophoric acid and
different cytochalasins will also be a powerful tool to aid in the
interpretation of the results. It is clear that the action of
pyrenophoric acid on seeds is quite different from that of ABA,
in spite of their apparent structural similarity. Pyrenophoric acid
did not slow germination, and its impact on seedling growth
was much less than that of ABA. The hypothesis that it might
function to halt or slow germination, a valuable adaptation in a
seed pathogen, was therefore not strongly supported, and its
role in pathogenesis remains unknown.
Production, Extraction, and Purification of Pyrenophoric
Acid (1). For solid culture on wheat seeds, 6.6 mg of WRR10-16
conidia suspended in sterile H2O was added to 200 g of soaked,
autoclaved wheat seeds, and the mixture was placed in a sterile 1 L
Erlenmeyer flask with an aluminum foil cap at 22 °C. The flask was
hand-shaken periodically during the 4-week incubation period to
prevent caking together of the grains. The culture was then spread in
pans and air-dried for at least several weeks prior to extraction. The
dried material (200 g) was then minced using a laboratory mill and
extracted with 500 mL of MeOH−H2O (1% NaCl) (1:1). The mixture
was centrifuged for 1 h at 10 000 rpm. The pellet was extracted again
with the same solvent mixture in the same conditions, and the two
supernatants were then pooled and defatted by n-hexane (2 × 500
mL). The resulting aqueous phase was extracted (3 × 500 mL) with
CH2Cl2. The combined organic extracts were dehydrated (by Na2SO4)
and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield a brown solid residue
(445.4 mg) showing significant phytotoxic activity in a B. tectorum
coleoptile bioassay. The mixture was washed with small aliquots (5 × 1
mL) of MeOH. The solid residue was soluble in CHCl3−MeOH (1:1)
and essentially contained cytochalasin B,6 as shown by TLC analysis
carried out in comparison with an authentic sample of the toxin [Rf
0.55 and 0.48, using the solvent systems CHCl3−i-PrOH (9:1) and
EtOAc−n-hexane (7:3), respectively]. The solid was crystallized twice
from EtOAc−n-hexane (1:5), giving white needles of cytochalasin B
(240.2 mg). The products in the mother liquors of cytochalasin B
crystallization (55.3 mg) were combined with the initial MeOH
washing (for a total of 205.2 mg) and fractionated by column
chromatography on silica gel, eluted with CH2Cl2−MeOH (93:7).
Seven homogeneous fraction groups were collected. The residue (28.6
mg) of the third fraction group was further purified by TLC on silica
gel, eluent CH2Cl2−MeOH (95:5), yielding a further amount of
cytochalasin B as white needles (20.1 mg, for a total of 260.3 mg, 1.3
g/kg). The residue of the fifth fraction (23.4 mg) was further purified
by TLC on silica gel, eluent CH2Cl2−MeOH (9:1), yielding
pyrenophoric acid (1, Rf 0.36, 14.3 mg, 71.5 mg/kg) as a
homogeneous amorphous solid.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
■
General Experimental Procedures. Optical rotation was
measured on a Jasco P-1010 digital polarimeter; IR spectra were
recorded as glassy film on a Perkin-Elmer Spectrum One FT-IR and
on a Thermo Nicolet Avatar 370 FT-IR spectrometer; UV spectra
were recorded in MeOH solution on Perkin-Elmer Lambda 25 UV/vis
and Hewlett-Packard 8453 spectrophotometers. 1H and 13C NMR
spectra were recorded in CDCl3 at 500 MHz on a Varian or at 400/
100 MHz on a Bruker spectrometer. The same solvent was used as
internal standard. Carbon multiplicities were determined by DEPT
spectra;11 DEPT, COSY-45, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experi-
ments11 were performed using Bruker microprograms. HRESI and ESI
mass spectra were recorded on Agilent Technologies 1100 LC/MSD
TOF and on Agilent Technologies 6120 Quadrupole LC/MS
instruments, respectively. Analytical and preparative TLC were
performed on silica gel plates (Merck, Kieselgel 60 F254, 0.25);
compounds were visualized by exposure to UV light and/or by
spraying first with 10% H2SO4 in MeOH and then with 5%
phosphomolybdic acid in EtOH, followed by heating at 110 °C for
10 min. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel (Merck,
Kieselgel 60, 0.063−0.200 mm).
Pyrenophoric acid (1): [α]25D +10.2 (c 0.2 CHCl3); IR νmax 3415,
1683, 1632, 1559, 1261 cm−1; UV λmax nm (log ε) 257 (4.60); 1H and
13C NMR, see Table 1; HRESIMS (+) m/z 286.2014 [M +
NH4]+(calcd for C15H28NO4 286.2018); HRESIMS (−) m/z
267.1446 [M − H]− (calcd for C15H23O4 267.1596).
Methyl Ester of Pyrenophoric Acid (2). To pyrenophoric acid
(1, 1.7 mg) dissolved in MeOH (0.30 mL) was slowly added an
ethereal solution of CH2N2 until a yellow color was persistent. The
solvent was evaporated under an N2 stream, and the residue (2.0 mg)
purified by preparative TLC eluted with CHCl3−i-PrOH (95:5),
giving 2 (1.5 mg, Rf 0.8) as a homogeneous oil: UV λmax nm (log ε)
262 (4.13); IR νmax 3410, 1718, 1628, 1601, 1267 cm−1; 1H NMR, see
Table 2; ESIMS (+) m/z 305 [M + Na]+.
Acetylation of Pyrenophoric Acid. Pyrenophoric acid (1, 3.5
mg) was acetylated with pyridine (50 μL) and Ac2O (50 μL) at room
temperature for 1 h. The reaction was stopped by addition of MeOH,
and the azeotrope, obtained by the addition of benzene, was
evaporated by an N2 stream. The oily residue (3.6 mg) was purified
by preparative TLC, eluted with CHCl3−i-PrOH (95:5), to give the
two 9-O-acetyl and 9,10-O,O′-diacetyl derivatives 3 and 4 of
pyrenophoric acid as homogeneous compounds (Rf 0.63, 1.9 mg
and Rf 0.46, 1.1 mg, respectively). Derivative 3: IR νmax 3427, 1741,
Fungal Strain. The P. semeniperda strain WRR10-16 used in this
study, ITS Haplotype A (GenBank accession number GQ168725),
was obtained from a B. tectorum seed bank sample collected a few
miles west of the Whiterocks exclosure on Whiterocks Road
(−112.8891 long., 40.3289 lat., 1567 m elevation) in west-central
Utah, USA, in November 2010. The anamorph (Drechslera
campanulata) of the pathogen P. semeniperda forms macroscopically
visible fruiting structures (stromata) that protrude from the surface of
killed seeds in the seed bank. To obtain pure strains from field-
collected killed seeds, individual stromata were surface-sterilized,
wounded by breaking off the tip, and incubated in sterile water. New
conidia produced at the wounded tip were then transferred to a small
volume of sterile water using a needle, and the conidial suspension was
poured over water agar. Excess water was decanted, and the plates
were incubated for 8 h at room temperature. Single germinated conidia
free of apparent contamination were then transferred using a needle
under a dissecting microscope directly to MAM (modified alphacel
medium) plates for conidial production. Conidia were then harvested,
1
1718, 1632, 1600, 1257 cm−1; UV λmax nm (log ε) 259 (4.96); H
NMR, see Table 2; HRESIMS (+) m/z 328.2152 [M + NH4]+ (calcd
for C17H30NO5 328.2124). Derivative 4: IR νmax 1744, 1684, 1632,
1600, 1251 cm−1; UV λmax nm (log ε) 256 (5.13); 1H NMR, see Table
2; HRESIMS (+) m/z 370.2265 [M + NH4]+ (calcd for C19H32NO6
370.2230).
10-O-(S)-α-Methoxy-α-trifluoromethyl-α-phenylacetate
Ester of Pyrenophoric Acid Methyl Ester (5). (R)-(−)-MPTA-Cl
(10 μL) was added to 1 (1.5 mg) dissolved in dry pyridine (20 μL).
The mixture was kept at room temperature for 1 h, and then the
929
dx.doi.org/10.1021/np4009915 | J. Nat. Prod. 2014, 77, 925−930

Journal of Natural Products
Article
reaction stopped by adding MeOH. Pyridine was removed by an N2
stream. The residue (2.5 mg) was purified by preparative TLC, eluted
with CHCl3−i-PrOH (99:1), yielding 5 as a homogeneous oil (Rf 0.15,
1.1 mg): IR νmax 3417, 1743, 1461, 1377, 1261, 1157 cm−1; UV λmax
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ASSOCIATED CONTENT
■
S
* Supporting Information
NMR and HRESIMS spectra of 1 are available free of charge
via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
■
Corresponding Author
(25) Abrams, S. R.; Gusta, L. V.; Reany, M. J. T.; Ewan, B. E. U.S.
Patent Application US005518995A, 1996.
*Tel: +39 081 2539178. E-mail: evidente@unina.it.
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K.; Yamasaki, Y.; Mitani, T.; Nakatani, N. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004,
52, 344−349.
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Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
■
Some of the NMR spectra were recorded in the laboratory of
the Instituto di Chimica Biomolecolare del CNR, Pozzuoli,
Italy, by Mrs. D. Melck, whose contribution is gratefully
acknowledged. Logistical support at Brigham Young University
was provided to M.M. by Dr. P. Savage of the Chemistry
Department. We also gratefully acknowledge S. Clement of the
USFS Shrub Sciences Laboratory, who produced the fungal
cultures, F. Avolio of the University of Naples Federico II
Department of Chemistry, for useful discussion, and S. Mata,
who assisted with the spectroscopic analyses carried out at
Brigham Young University. This research was funded in part by
Grant JFSP-11-S-2-6 to S.E.M. from the Joint Fire Sciences
Program of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior.
(28) Zhang, Z.; Zhang, W.; Ji, Y.-P.; Zhao, Y.; Chuan-Gui Wang, C.-
G.; Jin-Feng Hua, J.-F. Phytochemistry 2010, 71, 693−700.
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