Thalassospiramide G, a new γ-amino-acid-bearing peptide from the marine bacterium Thalassospira sp

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/md11030611

In the chemical investigation of marine unicellular bacteria, a new peptide, thalassospiramide G (1), along with thalassospiramides A and D (2-3), was discovered from a large culture of Thalassospira sp. The structure of thalassospiramide G, bearing γ-amino acids, such as 4-amino-5-hydroxy- penta-2-enoic acid (AHPEA), 4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-pentanoic acid (ADPA), and unique 2-amino-1-(1H-indol-3-yl) ethanone (AIEN), was determined via extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of thalassospiramide D (3), including 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid (AHPPA), was rigorously determined by ¹H-¹H coupling constant analysis and chemical derivatization. Thalassospiramides A and D (2-3) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 16.4 and 4.8 μM, respectively.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/md11030611

Mar. Drugs 2013, 11, 611-622; doi:10.3390/md11030611
OPEN ACCESS
Marine Drugs
ISSN 1660-3397
www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs
Article
Thalassospiramide G, a New γ-Amino-Acid-Bearing Peptide
from the Marine Bacterium Thalassospira sp.
Soohyun Um 1, Yuna Pyee 1, Eun-Hee Kim 2, Sang Kook Lee 1, Jongheon Shin 1 and
Dong-Chan Oh 1,*
1
Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University,
Seoul 151-742, Korea; E-Mails: ush2727@snu.ac.kr (S.U.); Yvette11@snu.ac.kr (Y.P.);
sklee61@snu.ac.kr (S.K.L.); shinj@snu.ac.kr (J.S.)
2
Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Korea;
E-Mail: keh@kbsi.re.kr
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: dongchanoh@snu.ac.kr;
Tel.: +82-2-880-2491; Fax: +82-2-762-8322.
Received: 13 December 2012; in revised form: 29 January 2013 / Accepted: 6 February 2013 /
Published: 26 February 2013
Abstract: In the chemical investigation of marine unicellular bacteria, a new peptide,
thalassospiramide G (1), along with thalassospiramides A and D (2–3), was discovered
from a large culture of Thalassospira sp. The structure of thalassospiramide G,
bearing γ-amino acids, such as 4-amino-5-hydroxy-penta-2-enoic acid (AHPEA),
4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-pentanoic acid (ADPA), and unique 2-amino-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)
ethanone (AIEN), was determined via extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute
configuration of thalassospiramide D (3), including 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic
1
acid (AHPPA), was rigorously determined by H–1H coupling constant analysis and
chemical derivatization. Thalassospiramides A and D (2–3) inhibited nitric oxide (NO)
production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells,
with IC50 values of 16.4 and 4.8 μM, respectively.
Keywords: unicellular bacteria; marine bacteria; Thalassospira; thalassospiramide;
γ-amino acid; iNOS assay

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1. Introduction
The discovery of new bioactive natural products from marine microorganisms has been the most
rapidly expanding field in marine natural products research over the past fifteen years [1]. Ever since
marine microbes were highlighted as an emerging resource for bioactive molecules by Fenical [2], they
have demonstrated their pharmaceutical potential by providing structurally novel natural products for
drug discovery, such as salinosporamide A, which is currently in clinical trials. Drugs derived from
microorganisms could overcome the supply issues inherent in macro-organism-derived drugs [3]. To
date, most investigations of marine microbial secondary metabolites have focused on organisms that
produce large numbers of natural products, such as actinomycetes, fungi and cyanobacteria, leaving
unicellular bacteria a relatively unexplored resource [4].
However, recent chemical studies of marine unicellular bacteria, primarily unicellular
proteobacteria, have indicated that this group could be an abundant source of bioactive small
molecules. Among the phylogenetically diverse marine proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria exhibit the
most chemically diverse bioactive natural products [5]. These molecules include the recent discoveries
of cyclic tetrapeptides from Pseudomonas sp. associated with the seaweed Diginea sp. [6], the tricyclic
antibiotic, zafrin, from Pseudomonas stutzeri found in the intestinal tract of ribbonfish [7] and the
amphiphilic siderophores, loihichelins, from Halomonas [8]. Pseudoalteromonas sp. also yielded
antimicrobial polybrominated secondary metabolites [9], and two distinctive Vibrio spp. produced the
tris-catechol amide siderophore, trivanchrobactin [10] and the maleimides, aqabamycins [11,12],
respectively. Although relatively few secondary metabolites have been reported from marine
α-proteobacteria, causing this class to be overlooked as a source of new bioactive small molecules,
pioneering studies have led to the isolation of agrochelin, a cytotoxic thiazole alkaloid from
Agrobacterium [13] and B-90063, a dimeric oxazole pyridone analog from Blastobacter [14], which
indicate the biomedical potential of this class of proteobacteria. In addition, an early investigation of
the α-proteobacterium Thalassospira sp., strain number CNJ328, resulted in the discovery of unique
immunosuppressive peptides, thalassospiramides A and B [15]. Further studies of the
thalassospiramides and their biosynthesis recently reported more new analogues from Tistrella and
Thalassospira isolates and the biosynthetic pathway [16].
In our search for new bioactive natural products from marine unicellular bacteria, we cultivated a
Thalassospira strain, CNJ328, chemically investigated its culture and discovered the production of an
additional γ-amino-acid-bearing peptide, thalassospiramide G, along with thalassospiramides A and D
(Figure 1). For biological evaluation, we performed a bioassay measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide
(NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage. NO is considered a
cellular signaling molecule and is formed by catalyzing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from a substrate,
L-arginine. Even though the production of NO by macrophages serves as a host defense against
pathogens, the overproduction of NO and its corresponding enzyme, inducible nitric oxide synthase
(iNOS), are highly associated with inflammation. Therefore, the regulation of NO production and
iNOS expression is considered a useful target for the procurement of anti-inflammatory agents [17].
We report the structural determination of a new peptide, thalassospiramide G, the stereochemistry of
thalassospiramide D and the inhibitory activities of thalassospiramides A, D and G against nitric oxide
(NO) production.

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Figure 1. The structures of thalassospiramides G, A and D (1–3).
613
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Structural Elucidation
Thalassospiramide G (1) was isolated as an oil with a molecular ion at m/z 670.3785 [M + H]+. The
molecular formula was determined to be C35H51N5O8 (unsaturation number: 13) based on
1
13
high-resolution electrospray ionization (HR-ESI) mass spectrometry and H and C nuclear magnetic
1
13
resonance (NMR) data (Table 1). Signals in the H, C and heteronuclear single quantum correlation
(HSQC) NMR spectra indicated that thalassospiramide G is a peptide-derived compound with four
characteristic amide NH signals (δH 8.37, 8.18, 7.92 and 7.54), three methine (δH 4.25–δC 57.5;
δH 3.70–δC 54.6; δH 4.47–δC 51.7) and one methylene (δH 4.52–δC 45.5) signal, each bearing a nitrogen
atom and four amide 13C signals (δC 171.2, 171.0, 170.6 and 164.9). Further analysis of the 1H and 13C
NMR spectrum revealed that thalassospiramide G possesses unusual olefinic protons (δH 6.62, 6.13,
5.54, 5.46) and one ketone signal (δC 190.2), indicating that this is a modified peptide. The UV
spectrum exhibited absorption maxima at 204, 239 and 280 nm, which differed substantially from
previously-reported thalassospiramide A (2). Its distinct UV spectrum also indicated that
thalassospiramide G bears a unique chromophore uncommon in peptide-derived compounds, whereas
thalassospiramides A and D possess only aromatic rings as chromophores. Careful interpretation of the
13C and HSQC NMR spectra allowed for the complete assignment of the one-bond carbon–proton
correlations and quaternary carbons, which included 14 methines, 10 methylenes and three methyls
with eight quaternary carbons.
Given this information, a valine could be identified in a straightforward manner using the combined
analyses of the correlation spectroscopy (COSY), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) and
heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) NMR spectra. In addition to this standard amino acid
unit, two γ-amino acid units, a hydrophobic chain and an amino acid-derived substructure were
identified. The unusual olefinic protons (H-12 and H-13) at δH 6.13 and 6.63 were located in a
trans-double bond (J = 16.0 Hz) and were connected to H-14 (δH 4.47), as indicated by the COSY and

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TOCSY NMR spectra. H-14 displayed further COSY correlations to 14-NH (δH 8.18) and H2-15
(δH 3.46, 3.44), connecting 4-amino-5-hydroxy-penta-2-enoic acid (AHPEA) with the carbonyl carbon
(C-11; δC 164.9), based on the HMBC correlations of H-12 and H-13 to C-11. The COSY and TOCSY
correlations among H2-22 (δH 2.35, 2.17), H-23 (δH 4.12), H-24 (δH 3.70), H2-25 (δH 3.46, 3.32) and
24-NH (δH 7.54) indicated another γ-amino acid backbone. Further analysis of the COSY and HMBC
correlations provided the assignment of 4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-pentanoic acid (ADPA), including the
amide carbon, C-21 (δC 171.2). The final substructure, dec-3-enoic acid (DEA), was also determined
via COSY and HMBC NMR analysis. The rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect correlation
spectroscopy (ROESY) correlation between the olefinic protons (δH 5.54, 5.46) indicated that the
double bond in this hydrophobic chain possessed cis geometry. After assigning these amino acids and
the hydrophobic chain, ten carbon (δC 190.2, 136.5, 133.6, 125.4, 122.7, 121.6, 120.9, 114.0, 112.1 and
45.5) and seven proton signals (δH 8.44, 8.16, 7.50, 7.23, 7.19 and 4.52 (2H)) were left unassigned. We
carefully analyzed their correlations in the COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra and deduced an
indole moiety (C-2 to C-9). The COSY correlations and multiplicities of the four aromatic protons
(δH 8.16 d, 7.50 dd, 7.23 d, 7.19 dd) constructed an ortho-substituted aromatic ring (C-4 to C-9). The
last aromatic proton signal at δH 8.44 showed HMBC correlations to the quaternary carbons C-2
(δC 114.0), C-4 (δC 133.6) and C-9 (δC 125.4). Along with these correlations, the three-bond
heteronuclear couplings from H-5 (δH 7.50) to C-9 and from H-8 (δH 8.16) to C-4 confirmed the indole
moiety. An additional COSY correlation between an amide NH (10-NH; δH 8.37) and H2-10 (δH 4.52)
assigned the connectivity of the amide proton (10-NH) to the methylene (H2-10). The indole and
methylene (H2-10) were connected through the ketone carbon at δC 190.2 by the ROESY
couplings between H2-10 (δH 4.52) and H-3 (δH 8.44), yielding a partial structure of
2-amino-1-(1H-indol-3yl)ethanone (AIEN), which serves as an additional unique residue in 1.
Table 1. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Data for 1 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-d6.
a
b
C/H
δH
mult (J in Hz)
δC
1
190.2
114.0
133.6
136.5
112.1
122.7
121.6
120.9
125.4
45.5
C
C
2
3
4
8.44
s
CH
C
5
7.50
7.23
7.19
8.16
d (8.0)
dd (7.5, 7.0)
dd (7.5, 7.0)
d (8.0)
CH
CH
CH
CH
C
6
7
8
9
10
4.52
8.37
m
CH2
10-NH
11
t (5.5)
164.9
124.3
140.7
51.7
C
12
6.13
6.62
4.47
8.18
3.46
3.44
d (16.0)
CH
CH
CH
13
dd (16.0, 6.0)
14
m
d (8.5)
m
14-NH
15a
15b
62.8
CH2
m

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Table 1. Cont.
16
17
171.0
57.5
C
4.25
7.92
2.05
0.86
0.84
dd (9.0, 6.0)
CH
17-NH
18
Br, s
m
30.2
19.1
17.6
171.2
39.9
CH
CH3
CH3
C
19
m
20
m
21
22a
22b
23
2.35
2.17
4.12
3.70
7.54
3.46
3.32
dd (15.0, 10.0)
CH2
dd (15.0, 4.0)
m
m
65.9
54.6
CH
CH
24
24-NH
25a
25b
26
d (7.0)
m
60.0
CH2
m
170.6
33.9
123.7
131.4
26.5
28.6
28.2
30.9
21.9
13.6
C
27
2.97
5.54
5.46
2.02
1.31
1.25
1.23
1.26
0.86
m
CH2
CH
28
m
29
m
CH
30
m
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
31
m
32
m
33
m
34
m
35
t (6.5)
a 900 MHz; b 225 MHz.
The five fragments (valine, AHPEA, ADPA, DEA and AIEN) were then connected by careful
analysis of the HMBC correlations. The long-range correlations from 10-NH to C-11 (δC 164.9) and
the ROESY correlation between 10-NH and H-12 (δH 6.13) confirmed the connectivity of AIEN to
AHPEA. The amide proton (δH 8.18) of AHPEA indicated an HMBC correlation to C-16, the carbonyl
carbon of valine, connecting AHPEA and valine. The HMBC correlations of the NH of valine and
H2-22 in ADPA to the amide carbon (C-21) of AHPPA established the sequence of valine to ADPA.
The DEA was located next to ADPA based on the heteronuclear coupling between 25-NH and the
carbonyl carbon of DEA, completing the planar structure of thalassospiramide G (1) (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Key heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) and rotating-frame nuclear
Overhauser effect correlation spectroscopy (ROESY) correlations in thalassospiramide G.

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1
The relative configuration of the ADPA unit was established via H–1H coupling constant analysis
based on the method for determining the relative stereochemistry of statine units [18]. The large
vicinal coupling (10.0 Hz) of the downfield proton (δH 2.35) of H2-22 clearly indicated an
anti-configuration between the substituents on C-23 and C-24. The yield of thalassospiramide G (1)
was too low (0.9 mg/160 L culture) for chemical derivatization to determine the absolute configuration.
The three consecutive units bearing stereogenic centers (AHPEA, Val and ADPA) were also found in
thalassospiramide A (2), which was isolated from the same strain. Therefore, the absolute
configurations of the three units in 1 were assumed to be identical to those in 2, because the identical
moieties in 1 and 2 were most probably produced through the same biosynthetic modules in strain CNJ328.
Along with thalassospiramide G, two more thalassospiramide analogues were purified. The major
compound was identified as thalassospiramide A (2) based on the original report by a part of the
authors [15]. The last compound (3) was purified as a gum, with the molecular formula C46H65N5O9, as
determined from the molecular ion at m/z 832.4825 [M + H]+ (832.4855 calculated for C46H66N5O9) via
1
13
high-resolution ESI mass spectrometry and H and C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular formula is
identical to one of the analogues very recently reported [16]. Careful comparison of the NMR data and
molecular formula of 3 with the literature values [16] enabled us to identify the compound as
thalassospiramide D and revise the incorrect NMR assignments in 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic
acid (AHPPA) (Table S1). We also provided physiochemical data for thalassospiramide D that was
missing in the literature (see Experimental Section).
The configuration of the 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid (AHPPA) unit in the family of
the thalassospiramides previously has never been rigorously determined. Only the relative
1
configuration of AHPPA in thalassospiramide B was proposed by analysis of H coupling constants
and ROESY correlations [15]. Recent development of the method for relative configurations of statine
units used for 1 [18] enabled confident establishment of the relative configuration of AHPPA. The
down-field proton signal (δH 3.08) of the H2-27 methylene pair displayed a large vicinal coupling (8.0 Hz)
to the H-29 (δH 4.65), which indicates an anti-configuration between the hydroxy group at C-28 and
the side-chain alkyl group at C-29. To determine the absolute configuration of the AHPPA,
thalassospiramide D (3) was subjected to flash acid hydrolysis for 1 h [19], and the free amino acids
were derivatized using L- and D-Marfey’s reagents (L- and D-1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-leucine
amide, FDLA). The derivatives were analyzed via LC/MS to confirm the absolute configurations of
N-methyltyrosine and the two valines as L. The absolute configuration of the C-29 in AHPPA was
deduced using the previously reported Marfey derivatization and the analyses of the four diastereomers
of AHPPA [20]. According to the literature, the L-Marfey product of 4S-AHPPA elutes faster than its
D-Marfey derivative, regardless of the absolute configuration of the C-3 in AHPPA. This result
indicates that the phenyl side chain of the molecule is more hydrophobic than the β-hydroxy acid
portion. This elution order was also supported by a comparison of the retention times of the L-FDLA
derivatives of 2-phenylethanamine and 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid, the fragments of AHPPA
(see Experimental Section). We observed faster elution of the L-Marfey product for the AHPPA than
the D-Marfey derivative, confirming the absolute configuration of C-29 as S and, subsequently,
assigning the 28S configuration.
Thalassospiramide G (1) is structurally unique and the most distinct member of the
thalassospiramide family, because it incorporates 2-amino-1-(1H-indol-3yl)ethanone (AIEN). To the

Mar. Drugs 2013, 11
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best of our knowledge, AIEN has been reported only once in a natural product, a putative biogenic
peptidic precursor of the indole alkaloid, almazole C, isolated from a Senegalese delesseriacean
seaweed [21]. Our report of thalassospiramide G is the first to describe an AIEN unit in a natural
product from an organism other than seaweed. The recent discovery of the biosynthetic gene cluster of
the thalassospiramide family elucidated the formation of the repeating γ-amino acid unit. By iterative
employment of the specific modules, the bacterium synthesizes the common valine-γ-amino acid
substructures multiple times. Then, it utilizes the final two modules in the cluster and couples the
peptide chain with an additional valine and N-methyltyrosine, which cyclizes the 12-membered lactone
ring in the thalassospiramides. However, the biosynthesis of thalassospiramide G cannot be fully
understood based on the reported biosynthetic modules, opening up the possibility of the existence of a
separate module elongating the peptide chain by adding tryptophan, which later possibly undergoes
decarboxylation and oxidation at β-carbon.
2.2. Inhibition of NO Production in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells
To determine the biological activity of the thalassospiramides, we tested their effects on the
production of NO induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the inhibitory effects of
thalassospiramides G, A and D (1–3) on the production of NO, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with
LPS, and the quantity of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO, was measured in the media. As shown in
Figure 3, the treatment with LPS markedly increased the production of NO from a basal level of
4.7 ± 0.2 μM to 34.8 ± 0.7 μM after 20 h of incubation. In this assay, L-NMMA
(L-NG-monomethylarginine, 50 μM, a non-selective inhibitor of NOS) was used as a positive control
and reduced the NO content by 70.9% (data not shown). No significant effect on NO production was
observed for thalassospiramide G (Figure 3a). However, when the cells were pretreated with varying
concentrations of thalassospiramides A (2) and D (3) (0–20 μM for 30 min prior to LPS stimulation),
the NO production was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner (Figure 3b,c).
Thalassospiramides A (2) and D (3) exhibited significant inhibitory activity on the NO production,
with IC50 values of 16.4 μM and 4.8 μM, respectively, without observable cytotoxicity up to 20 μM, as
determined using an MTT assay (supplementary data, Figure S17).
Figure 3. Effects of (a) thalassospiramide G (1), (b) thalassospiramide A (2) and
(c) thalassospiramide D (3) on nitric oxide production.

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3. Experimental Section
3.1. General Experimental Procedures
Optical rotations were acquired on a Jasco P-1020 polarimeter with a 5-cm cell. The UV spectra
were recorded using a Perkin Elmer Lambda 35 UV-Vis spectrophotometer with a 1-cm cell. The IR
spectra were obtained on a JASCO FT-IR-4200 spectrometer. The low-resolution LC/MS data were
acquired with an Agilent Technologies 6130 quadrupole mass spectrometer in tandem with an Agilent
Technologies 1200 series HPLC using a reversed-phase column (Phenomenex Luna C18 (2),
4.6 mm × 100 mm). The high-resolution ESI mass spectra were acquired with a Thermo Scientific
LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The NMR spectra were collected on a Bruker 900 MHz NMR
spectrometer at the Korea Basic Science Institute in Ochang.
3.2. Bacterial Material, Cultivation and Extraction
The marine bacterial strain CNJ328 (GenBank accession number AY989809) was originally
isolated from the surface of Rosenvingea sp. brown alga in the Bahamas in 1996. As described in the
previous study, the 16S rDNA sequence indicated that it is most closely related to Thalassospira
lucentensis (98% identity), indicating that this α-proteobacterium is a member of the genus
Thalassospira [15]. The bacterium was cultivated in 40 2.8-L Fernbach flasks, each containing 1 L YPM
medium (2 g yeast extract, 2 g peptone and 4 g mannitol/1 L seawater). The culture was incubated for
2 days at 27 °C with shaking at 215 rpm. For large-scale fermentation, this procedure was repeated
four times to cultivate 160 L. For the solid-phase extraction, Amberlite XAD-7 resin was added to the
culture (20 g/L), and the culture was shaken with the resin at 215 rpm for 2 h. The resin was retrieved
by filtering the culture through cheesecloth, then washing with DI water. The organic material was
extracted by shaking the resin in acetone at 215 rpm for 1 h. The acetone extract was concentrated
using a rotary evaporator to yield 35 g dry, crude material from 160 L of bacterial culture.
3.3. Isolation of Thalassospiramides G, A and D
One quarter of the crude extract (~9 g) was fractionated through a Si vacuum column (100 g Si gel)
by eluting with a step gradient of isooctane, ethyl acetate and methanol (isooctane/ethyl acetate 1:1,
ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate/methanol 9:1, ethyl acetate/methanol 5:1, ethyl acetate/methanol 2:1 and
methanol). The 5:1 ethyl acetate/methanol fraction was fractionated again with a semi-preparative
reversed-phase HPLC (Phenomenex Luna, 5-μm C18 column, 10 mm × 250 mm, 2-mL/min flow rate,
280-nm UV detection) using isocratic 60% aqueous methanol. The purified thalassospiramides G and
D (1and 3) eluted at 35 and 47 min, respectively. The entire process was repeated four times to yield
0.9 mg of 1 and 2.5 mg of 3. Thalassospiramide A (2) was isolated through the process described in
the previous report [15].

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3.3.1. Thalassospiramide G (1)
[α]25 −1.5 (c 0.10, CH3CN); IR (neat) νmax 3420, 1679, 1591 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data (see Table 1);
D
UV (CH3CN) λmax(log ε) 204 (4.09), 239 (3.38), 280 (3.08); HR-ESIMS m/z 670.3785 [M + H]+
(calculated for C35H52N5O8 670.3810).
3.3.2. Thalassospiramide D (3)
[α]25 −40.5 (c 0.10, CH3CN); IR (neat) νmax 3395, 2925, 1801, 1662, 1599 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data
D
(see Table S1); UV (CH3CN) λmax(log ε) 224 (4.19), 278 (3.26); HR-ESIMS m/z 832.4825 [M + H]+
(calculated for C46H66N5O9 832.4855).
3.4. Acid Hydrolysis and Advanced Marfey Analysis
A 1-mg sample of thalassospiramide D (3) was hydrolyzed in 0.5 mL 6 N HCl at 115 °C for 1 h.
The reaction vial was then rapidly cooled in ice water for 3 min. The HCl was evaporated in vacuo, after
which the residual HCl was removed by adding 0.5 mL of water and evaporating the solvent 3 times. The
hydrolysate was completely dried under high vacuum for 12 h. The hydrolysate with free amino acids
was then evenly divided into two 8-mL vials. The hydrolysate was dissolved in 100 μL of 1 N NaHCO3.
Then, 50 μL of 10 mg/mL L-FDLA (1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-L-leucine amide) in acetone was
added to one of the two vials containing the dissolved free amino acids, and D-FDLA was added into the
other. The reaction mixtures were incubated at 80 °C for 3 min. The mixtures were then neutralized with
50 μL of 2 N HCl, and 300 μL of a 50% solution of aqueous CH3CN was added. An aliquot of 10 μL of
each reaction mixture was analyzed by LC/MS with a gradient solvent system (20%–70% CH3CN with
0.1% formic acid over 50 min, 0.7 mL/min flow rate, 340 nm UV detection). The N-methyltyrosine was
eluted at retention times of 16.1 and 16.7 min with the L-FDLA and D-FDLA derivatives, respectively.
The L-FDLA and D-FDLA derivatives of valine were eluted at 26.3 and 33.5 min, respectively. The
L- and D-Marfey products for AHPPA were detected at 27.4 and 34.2 min, respectively. The L-FDLA
derivative of 2-phenylethanamine were eluted (TR: 43.1 min) after that of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic
acid (TR: 21.4 min) in the LC/MS analysis.
3.5. Bioassay
Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM), fetal bovine serum (FBS), sodium pyruvate,
L-glutamine and antibiotic-antimycotic solutions were purchased from Invitrogen™ (Grand Island,
NY, USA). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli 0111: B4), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl
tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and other chemicals were obtained from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA).
The mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, obtained from the American Type Culture Collection
(ATCC, Rockville, MD, USA), were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated
FBS, 100 units/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin and 0.25 μg/mL amphotericin B. The cells
were incubated at 37 °C and under 5% CO2 in a humidified atmosphere.
To evaluate the inhibitory activity of the test material on LPS-induced NO production, the RAW
264.7 cells in 10% FBS-DMEM without phenol red were plated in 24-well plates (3 × 105 cells/mL) and
incubated for 24 h. The cells were washed with PBS, taken up in fresh media and incubated with

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1 μg/mL LPS in the presence or absence of the test compounds. After an additional 20-h incubation, the
media were collected and analyzed for nitrite accumulation using the Griess reaction to indicate NO
production—180 μL Griess reagents (0.1% N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride in H2O and
1% sulfanilamide in 5% H3PO4) were added to 100 μL of each supernatant from the LPS- or
sample-treated cells in 96-well plates. The absorbance was measured at 540 nm, and the nitrite
concentration was determined by comparison with a sodium nitrite standard curve. The percent
inhibition was expressed as [1 − (NO level of test samples/NO levels of vehicle-treated control)] × 100.
The IC50 value, the sample concentration resulting in 50% inhibition of NO production, was determined
using non-linear regression analysis (% inhibition versus concentration).
After completion of the Griess reaction, the MTT solution (final concentration: 500 μg/mL) was
added to each well, and the cells were incubated for an additional 4 h at 37 °C. The media were discarded
and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added to each well to dissolve the generated formazan. The
absorbance was measured at 570 nm, and percent survival was determined by comparison with the
control group.
4. Conclusion
The chemical investigation of the marine unicellular bacterium Thalassospira sp. led to the discovery
of a new peptide, thalassospiramide G (1), along with thalassospiramides A and D (2–3). The peptides
are structurally unique, with unusual γ-amino acids, such as 4-amino-5-hydroxy-penta-2-enoic acid
(AHPEA) and 4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-pentanoic acid (ADPA). In addition, thalassospiramide G bears
a 2-amino-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanone (AIEN) moiety, which is quite rare in a natural product. In the
LPS-induced NO production assay, thalassospiramide D displayed more significant inhibition of NO
production than thalassospiramide A, indicating its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. The
structural novelty and biological activity of the secondary metabolites isolated from this marine
α-proteobacterial taxonomic group suggest that marine unicellular bacteria, particularly
α-proteobacteria, which have been overlooked in the search for new bioactive compounds, could
potentially provide a rich source of chemically and pharmaceutically interesting natural products.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank William Fenical and Paul R. Jensen at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
USA, for kindly providing the bacterial strain CNJ328. This work was supported by the
National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (MEST)
(NRF-M1A5A1-2010-0020429).
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