Marine sponge-associated actinomycetes are reservoirs of diverse natural products with novel biological activities. Their antibiotic potential has been well explored against a range of Gram positive and negative bacteria. However, not much is known about their anti-infective or anti-virulence potential against human pathogens. This Ph.D. project aimed to investigate the anti-infective (anti-Shiga toxin and anti-biofilm) potential of sponge-derived actinobacteria through identification and isolation of their bioactive metabolites produced and characterizing their mechanism of action by transcriptomics. This thesis is divided into three studies with the overall objective of exploring the anti-infective efficacy of actinomycetes-derived extracts and compound(s) that could possibly be used as future therapeutics. The first study deals with investigation on the anti-Shiga toxin effects of sponge-associated actinomycetes. Diarrheal infections pose a huge burden in several developing and developed countries. Diarrheal outbreaks caused by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) could lead to life-threatening complications like gastroenteritis and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) if left untreated. Shiga toxin (Stx) produced by EHEC is a major virulence factor that negatively affects the human cells, leading them to death via apoptosis. Antibiotics are not prescribed against EHEC infections since they may enhance the risk of development of HUS by inducing the production and release of Stx from disintegrating bacteria and thereby, worsening the complications. Therefore, an effective drug that blocks the Stx production without affecting the growth needs to be urgently developed. In this study, the inhibitory effects of 194 extracts and several compounds originating from a collection of marine sponge-derived actinomycetes were evaluated against the Stx production in EHEC strain EDL933 with the aid of Ridascreen® Verotoxin ELISA assay kit. It was found that treatment with the extracts did not lead to significant reduction in Stx production. However, strepthonium A isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp. SBT345 (previously cultivated from the Mediterranean sponge Agelas oroides) reduced the Stx production (at 80 μM concentration) in EHEC strain EDL933 without affecting the bacterial growth. The structure of strepthonium A was resolved by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D-NMR, as well as ESI-HRMS and ESI-HRMS2 experiments. This demonstrated the possible application of strepthonium A in restraining EHEC infections. VI In the second study, the effect of marine sponge-associated actinomycetes on biofilm formation of staphylococci was assessed. Medical devices such as contact lenses, metallic implants, catheters, pacemakers etc. are ideal ecological niches for formation of bacterial biofilms, which thereby lead to device-related infections. Bacteria in biofilms are multiple fold more tolerant to the host immune responses and conventional antibiotics, and hence are hard-to-treat. Here, the anti-biofilm potential of an organic extract derived from liquid fermentation of Streptomyces sp. SBT343 (previously cultivated from the Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis) was reported. Results obtained in vitro demonstrated its anti-biofilm (against staphylococci) and non-toxic nature (against mouse macrophage (J774.1), fibroblast (NIH/3T3) and human corneal epithelial cell lines). Interestingly, SBT343 extract could inhibit staphylococcal biofilm formation on polystyrene, glass and contact lens surfaces without affecting the bacterial growth. High Resolution Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS) analysis indicated the complexity and the chemical diversity of components present in the extract. Preliminary physio-chemical characterization unmasked the heat stable and non-proteinaceous nature of the active component(s) in the extract. Finally, fractionation experiments revealed that the biological activity was due to synergistic effects of multiple components present in the extract. In the third study, anti-biofilm screening of 50 organic extracts generated from solid and liquid fermentation of 25 different previously characterized sponge-derived actinomycetes was carried out. This led to identification of the anti-biofilm organic extract derived from the solid culture of Streptomyces sp. SBT348 (previously cultivated from the Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis). Bioassay-guided fractionation was employed to identify the active fraction Fr 7 in the SBT348 crude extract. Further purification with semi-preparative HPLC led to isolation of the bioactive SKC1, SKC2, SKC3, SKC4 and SKC5 sub-fractions. The most active sub-fraction SKC3 was found to be a pure compound having BIC90 and MIC values of 3.95 μg/ml and 31.25 μg/ml against S. epidermidis RP62A. SKC3 had no apparent toxicity in vitro on cell lines and in vivo on the greater wax moth Galleria melonella larvae. SKC3 was stable to heat and enzymatic treatments indicating its non-proteinaceous nature. HR-MS analysis revealed the mass of SKC3 to be 1258.3 Da. Structure elucidation of SKC3 with the aid of 1D and 2D-NMR data is currently under investigation. Further, to obtain insights into the mode of action of SKC3 on S. epidermidis RP62A, RNA sequencing was done. Transcriptome data revealed that SKC3 was recognized by RP62A at 20 min and SKC3 negatively interfered with the central metabolism of staphylococci at 3 h. Taken VII together, these findings suggest that SKC3 could be a lead structure for development of new anti-staphylococcal drugs. Overall, the results obtained from this work underscore the anti-infective attributes of actinomycetes consortia associated with marine sponges, and their applications in natural product drug discovery programs. / Meeresschwamm-assoziierte Actinomyceten stellen ein Reservoir für verschiedene natürliche Produkte mit neuartigen biologischen Aktivitäten dar. Ihr antibiotisches Potenzial gegenüber einer Reihe von Gram-negativen und -positiven Bakterien ist bereits intensiv erforscht worden. Wenig ist allerdings über ihre antiinfektive und antivirulente Wirksamkeit gegenüber menschlichen Pathogenen bekannt. Ziel dieser Doktorarbeit war es, die antiinfektiven Fähigkeiten (anti-Shiga-Toxin und anti-Biofilm) der aus Schwämmen isolierten Actinobakterien zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden bioaktive Metabolite der Actinobakterien identifiziert und isoliert und abschließend wurde ihr Wirkmechanismus mit Hilfe einer Transkriptomanalyse charakterisiert. Diese Arbeit ist in drei Studien gegliedert, welche alle zum Ziel hatten die antiinfektive Wirksamkeit von aus Actinomyceten gewonnenen Extrakten und Komponente(n), welche möglicherweise als zukünftige Therapeutika dienen könnten, zu untersuchen. Die erste Studie befasst sich mit den anti-Shiga-Toxin Effekten der Meeresschwamm- assoziierten Actinomyceten. Durchfallinfektionen stellen in vielen Entwicklungsländern aber auch in Industrieländern eine große Gefahr dar. Durchfallerkrankungen die durch enterohämorrhagische Escherichia coli (EHEC) hervorgerufen werden, können sich zu lebensbedrohlichen Komplikationen wie Gastroenteritis oder dem hämolytisch urenischen Syndrom (HUS) weiterentwickeln. Das von den EHEC Stämmen produzierte Shiga-Toxin (Stx) stellt hierbei den Haupt Virulenz Faktor dar, welcher die eukaryotische Proteinsynthese menschlicher Zellen negativ beeinflusst, was wiederum den Zelltod durch Apoptose zur Folge hat. Die Behandlung der EHEC-Patienten mit Antibiotika wird nicht empfohlen, da dies zu einem Anstieg von freigesetztem Stx der zersetzen Bakterien führen könnte, wodurch das Risiko für die Entwicklung des HUS ansteigt. Aus diesem Grund werden effektive Medikamente dringen benötigt, welche die Stx Produktion blockieren ohne das Wachstum der Bakterien zu beeinflussen. In dieser Studie wurden 194 Extrakte und einige isolierte Komponenten von aus Schwämmen gewonnenen Actinomyceten auf ihren negativen Einfluss auf die Stx Produktion des EHEC Stammes EDL933 mit der Hilfe des Ridascreen® Verotoxin ELISA Kits untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Zugabe der Extrakte keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Stx Produktion hatte. Strepthonium A auf der anderen Seite, welches aus Streptomyces sp. SBT345 isoliert wurde (vom mediterranen Schwamm Agelas oroides) konnte die Stx Produktion von EDL933 bei einer Konzentration von 80 µM reduzieren ohne das Wachstum des EHEC Stammes zu beeinflussen. Die Struktur von Strepthonium A wurde mittels spektroskopischer Analyse (1D- und 2D-NMR), sowie mittels ESI-HRMS und ESI-HRMS2 Experimenten entschlüsselt. Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen könnte Strepthonium A eine mögliche Alternative oder Zusatz in der Behandlung einer EHEC Infektion darstellen. In der zweiten Studie wurde der Einfluss der Meeresschwamm-assoziierten Actinomyceten auf die Biofilmbildung von Staphylokokken bewertet. Medizinische Produkte wie Kontakt Linsen, metallische Implantate, Katheter, Herzschrittmacher, usw. stellen optimale ökologische Nischen für die Ausbildung von bakteriellen Biofilmen dar, wodurch Infektionen im Menschen hervorgerufen werden können. Bakterien in einem Biofilm sind deutlich toleranter gegenüber der Immunantwort ihres Wirtes sowie gegenüber konventionellen Antibiotika und sind daher schwer zu bekämpfen. In dieser Studie wurde das anti-Biofilm Potential eines organischen Extrakts der flüssigen Fermentation von Streptomyces sp. SBT343 (vom mediterranen Schwamm Petrosia ficiformis) ermittelt. In vitro Ergebnisse zeigten, dass das organische Extrakt anti-Biofilm (gegenüber Staphylococci) Fähigkeiten besitzt und nicht toxisch für Maus Makrophagen (J774.1), Fibroblasten (NIH/3T3) und humane korneale Epithelzellen ist. Zudem konnte gezeigt werden, dass das SBT343 Extrakt die Ausbildung eines Biofilms von Staphylokokken auf den Oberflächen von Polystyrol, Glass und Kontaktlinsen unterbinden konnte ohne das bakterielle Wachstum zu beeinflussen. Die hochauflösende Fouriertransformation-Massenspektrometrie (HR-MS) Analyse konnte die Komplexität sowie die chemische Vielfalt an Komponenten im Extrakt aufzeigen. Eine vorläufige, physio-chemische Charakterisierung deutet darauf hin, dass die aktive Komponente im Extrakt hitzestabil und nicht proteinartiger Natur ist. Abschließend konnte durch Fraktionierungsexperimente gezeigt werden, dass die biologische Aktivität auf synergistischen Effekten mehrerer Komponenten im Extrakt beruht. In einer dritten Studie wurden 50 organische Extrakte, welche aus fester und flüssiger Fermentierung von 25 verschiedenen aus Meeresschwämmen isolierten Actinomyceten gewonnen wurden, auf anti-Biofilm-Aktivität untersucht. Hierbei wurde die anti-Biofilm Aktivität des organischen Extrakts der Festkultur von Streptomyces sp. SBT348 (vom mediterranen Schwamm Petrosia ficiformis) identifiziert. Eine Bioassay gestützte Fraktionierung führte zu der Identifikation der aktiven Fraktion Fr 7 im SBT348 Extrakt. Durch weitere Aufreinigung des Extrakts mit einer semipräparativen HPLC, konnten die bioaktiven Sub-Fraktionen SKC1, SKC2, SKC3, SKC4 und SKC5 isoliert werden. Die Sub- Fraktion SKC3 hatte den stärksten anti-Biofilm Effekt und bestand aus einer reinen Verbindung mit BIC90 und MIC Werten von 3,95 µg/ml und 31,25 µg/ml gegen S. epidermidis RP62A. SKC3 zeigte weder erkennbare Toxizität gegenüber Zelllinien in vitro noch gegenüber den Larven der großen Wachsmotte Galleria melonella in vivo. SKC3 war Hitze- und Enzym-resistent, was auf eine nicht proteinartige Natur hindeutet. Eine HR-MS Analyse ergab, dass die Masse von SKC3 1258,3 Da beträgt. Die Strukturanalyse von SKC3 durch 1D und 2D-NMR ist zurzeit in Bearbeitung. Um weiteres Verständnis über den anti-Biofilm Wirkmechanismus von SKC3 auf S. epidermidis RP62A zu erlangen, wurde eine RNA Sequenzierungsanalyse durchgeführt. Die Transkriptomanalyse zeigte, dass SKC3 von RP62A nach einer 20-minütigen Inkubationszeit erkannt wird und dass SKC3 den zentralen Metabolismus des Staphylokokken Stammes nach 3 h negativ beeinflusst. Zusammengenommen deuten die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass SKC3 als Leitstruktur für die Entwicklung neuer anti- Staphylokokken Medikamente dienen könnte. Zusammenfassend heben die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit die antiinfektiven Eigenschaften der Meeresschwamm-assoziierte Actinomyceten hervor und bieten eine Möglichkeit für die Nutzung dieser in Wirkstoffentwicklungsprogrammen.

An investigation of the dichioromethane extract of the sponge, Xestospongia testudinaria indicated that the extract was composed of approximately 40% sterols, 30% saturated fatty acids, 10% mono-unsaturated fatty acids and 20% poly-unsaturated acids. The sterol profile was found to vary between two collections of the sponge. In the first collection the major sterol was the C30 compound, xestosterol (4), which had not previously been reported to occur in this species. In the second collection there was a wider distribution of components with cholesterol (2a) being a major constituent and xestosterol being present in a much lower percentage than in the first collection. The poly-unsaturated acid fraction contained an extremely complex mixture. The novel brominated bisacetylenic C18 (47) and brominated C28 (65) acids were found to be the major components. Another six novel brominated acetylenic acids, which were very unstable, were also identified as well as an ester of 4 with 47. The method developed for the separation of the poly-unsaturated acids from the other classes of metabolites and for the isolation of the pure compounds is discussed and their structural elucidation, largely on the basis of NIMR spectroscopy is described. From the hexane extract of Carteriospongia foliascens, two novel bisalkylated norscalarane derivatives (114 and 116) and a bisalkylated scalarane derivative (130) have been isolated. By use of high field NMR and multipulse NMR techniques a complete assignment of the 111 and 13C NMR spectra of 130 has been achieved on 1.5mg of material. This represents the first report of a complete assignment of the 1J4 NMR spectrum of a scalarane derivative. The C-4 stereochemistry of 130 was determined by use of 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques, which gave results in agreement with the previously used 13C NMR method.

Isolation and structure elucidation of natural products from marine sponges and an invertebrate were performed. The marine sponges and invertebrate were obtained from three locations including South East Queensland, in Australia, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, and Tulamben, in Bali, Indonesia. The natural products were purified using chromatographic techniques, the structures were elucidated by means of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and some were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Five known compounds and potentially a new metabolite were identified from three different sponges and a species of nudibranch obtained in Mooloolaba, South East Queensland in Australia. Furospinosulin-1 (4.5), a linear sesterterpenoid, was identified from a sponge coded 20-1-07-1-7 while imidazole alkaloids, preclathridine A (4.9) and clathridine (4.10), were characterized from sponge 22-4-07-2-1. The ethyl acetate extract of sponge 14-7-07-1-1 yielded a polyacetylene fulvinol-like compound (4.15) and potentially a new metabolite compound 5 (4.21). Additionally, a specimen of Chromodoris kuiteri furnished a cyclic macrolide latrunculin A (4.27). There were six secondary metabolites identified from Aaptos aaptos, two of which to the best of our knowledge were new compounds. Aaptamine (5.1), a chemotaxonomic marker of the sponge A. aaptos, 9-demethylaaptamine (5.3) and a biosynthetically unrelated compound (-)-jaspamide (5.31) were found as major constituents of the dichloromethane extract of the sponge. On the other hand, a known indole-3-carbaldehyde (5.10), and the two new natural products methyl 3-(8,9-dimethoxy-4H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridin-4-yl)propanoate (5.11) and 8,9-dimethoxy-4H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridine-5,6-dione (5.30) were isolated as minor components. During a two-month fieldwork trip to Tulamben, Bali, six different sponges were obtained. Investigation of a blue colored sponge Petrosia sp. afforded two isoquinolinequinone metabolites, namely mimosamycin (5.35) and O-demethylrenierone (5.36). A new 3-alkylpiperidine metabolite, tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A (6.28), was isolated from a sponge Halichondria sp. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 6.28 were determined from analysis of 2D NMR data and interpretation of coupling constants. Suitable crystals that were grown from hexane: ethyl acetate (1:3) allowed the determination of the absolute configuration of 6.28 and it was established to be 2S, 3S, 7S, and 9S on the basis of X-ray crystallographic data. The isolated compound (6.28) appeared to be as a single enantiomer according to chiral HPLC. The parent compounds, haliclonacyclamine A (6.19) and B (6.20), were re-isolated from a sample (coded BK-Hal-12-AIK) obtained from a previous project on Haliclona in our group. Their absolute configurations were determined for the first time by X-ray crystallography and they were established to be 2R, 3R, 7R, and 9R.

Isolation and structure elucidation of natural products from marine sponges and an invertebrate were performed. The marine sponges and invertebrate were obtained from three locations including South East Queensland, in Australia, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, and Tulamben, in Bali, Indonesia. The natural products were purified using chromatographic techniques, the structures were elucidated by means of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and some were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Five known compounds and potentially a new metabolite were identified from three different sponges and a species of nudibranch obtained in Mooloolaba, South East Queensland in Australia. Furospinosulin-1 (4.5), a linear sesterterpenoid, was identified from a sponge coded 20-1-07-1-7 while imidazole alkaloids, preclathridine A (4.9) and clathridine (4.10), were characterized from sponge 22-4-07-2-1. The ethyl acetate extract of sponge 14-7-07-1-1 yielded a polyacetylene fulvinol-like compound (4.15) and potentially a new metabolite compound 5 (4.21). Additionally, a specimen of Chromodoris kuiteri furnished a cyclic macrolide latrunculin A (4.27). There were six secondary metabolites identified from Aaptos aaptos, two of which to the best of our knowledge were new compounds. Aaptamine (5.1), a chemotaxonomic marker of the sponge A. aaptos, 9-demethylaaptamine (5.3) and a biosynthetically unrelated compound (-)-jaspamide (5.31) were found as major constituents of the dichloromethane extract of the sponge. On the other hand, a known indole-3-carbaldehyde (5.10), and the two new natural products methyl 3-(8,9-dimethoxy-4H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridin-4-yl)propanoate (5.11) and 8,9-dimethoxy-4H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridine-5,6-dione (5.30) were isolated as minor components. During a two-month fieldwork trip to Tulamben, Bali, six different sponges were obtained. Investigation of a blue colored sponge Petrosia sp. afforded two isoquinolinequinone metabolites, namely mimosamycin (5.35) and O-demethylrenierone (5.36). A new 3-alkylpiperidine metabolite, tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A (6.28), was isolated from a sponge Halichondria sp. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 6.28 were determined from analysis of 2D NMR data and interpretation of coupling constants. Suitable crystals that were grown from hexane: ethyl acetate (1:3) allowed the determination of the absolute configuration of 6.28 and it was established to be 2S, 3S, 7S, and 9S on the basis of X-ray crystallographic data. The isolated compound (6.28) appeared to be as a single enantiomer according to chiral HPLC. The parent compounds, haliclonacyclamine A (6.19) and B (6.20), were re-isolated from a sample (coded BK-Hal-12-AIK) obtained from a previous project on Haliclona in our group. Their absolute configurations were determined for the first time by X-ray crystallography and they were established to be 2R, 3R, 7R, and 9R.

Neste trabalho descreve-se o estudo química dos extratos de quatro esponjas e dois fungos de origem marinha oriundos da costa do Brasil. Os extratos de três esponjas (Petromica ciocalyptoides, Topsentia ophiraphidites e Callyspongia sp.) apresentaram atividade inibitória à enzima adenosina fosforribosil transferase de Leishmania tarentolae. A partir desses extratos foram isolados 4 compostos. O trissulafato de halistanol, isolado das esponjas P. ciocalyptoides e T. ophiraphidites, e o ilhabelanol, ilhabreno e isoakaterpina, isolados da esponja Callyspongia sp. A partir do extrato bruto da esponja Axinella cf corrugata foram isolados dois derivados cumarínicos, provavelmente artefatos de isolamento do ácido 4-esculetínico, o qual é inédito como produto natural. O extrato bruto da esponja Axinella cf. corrugata apresentou atividade citotóxica, mas os compostos puros não apresentaram esta atividade. Os dois compostos puros foram testados ainda quanto sua atividade contra o vírus da SARS, na qual o éster etílico do ácido 4-esculetínico se apresentou ativo. A partir de dois extratos oriundos do fungo Beauveria felina, isolado da alga marinha Caulerpa sp, foram isoladas 17 frações puras que após diversas análises foram agrupadas em seis compostos conhecidos na literatura: a (Phe3, N-Val5) destruxina B, a cloroidrina da destruxina E, a roseotoxina B, a roseocardina, a isariina e a isariina B. Além disso, foram isolados dois compostos inéditos, a pseudodestruxina C e a cloloidrina Beta-Me-Pro da destruxina E. Os extratos brutos de Beauveria felina apresentaram atividades em bioensaios de atividade antituberculose e de citotoxicidade em linhagem de células de câncer. Os compostos puros avaliados no bioensaio antituberculose não foram ativos. Somente o composto roseotoxina B apresentou atividade citotóxica in vitro para quatro linhagens de células: mama, cólon, sistema nervoso e leucemia. / In this work we report the chemical investigation of bioactive crude extracts obtained from four sponges and two fungal strains of marine origin. The crude extracts of three sponges species (Petromica ciocalyptoides, Topsentia ophiraphidites and Callyspongia sp.) displayed inhibitory activity towards the enzyme adenine fosforribosyl transferase of Leishmania tarentolae (L-APRT). Four compounds have been isolated from these extracts: the known halistanol sulfate was isolated of sponges P. ciocalyptoides and T. ophiraphidites, while the novel ilhabelanol, ilhabrene and isoakaterpin have been isolated from the sponge Callyspongia sp. All compounds exhibited inhibition of L-APRT at micro M concentrations. Two coumarin derivatives have been isolated from the crude extract of the sponge Axinella cf. corrugata, probably as artifacts of isolation: esculetin-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester and esculetin-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester. While the crude extract of the sponge Axinella cf. corrugata presented cytotoxic activity, the pure compounds were inactive in these assays. The esculetin-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester was found to be an in vitro inhibitor of SARS virus. The crude extract obtained of a marine-derived Beauveria felina strain, isolated from the alga Caulerpa sp., displayed antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (breast), HCT-8 (colon) and B16 (murine melanoma) cancer cell lines. Chemical fractionation of the crude extract led to the isolation of two new cyclodepsipeptides pseudodestruxin C and [Beta-Me-Pro] destruxin E chlorohydrin, and of the known destruxin E chlorohydrin, [Phe3, N-Me-Val5] destruxin B, roseotoxin B, roseocardin, isariin and isariin B. The depsipeptides [Phe3, NMe- Val5] destruxin B and rosetoxin B, have been tested against M. tuberculosis H37 Rv and in cytotoxicity bioassays against SF 295 (human CNS) MDA-MB435 (human breast) HCT8 (colon) and HL60 (leukemia) cancer cell lines. Only roseotoxin B displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the cancer cell lines.

This thesis describes the isolation and structure elucidation of ten novel secondary metabolites from one fungus (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus), four lichens (Chrysothrix xanthina, Candelaria concolor, Ramalina glaucescens and Xanthoria parietina), three algae (Plocamium mertensii, Laurencia filiformis and Laurencia elata), two plants (Haemodorum simplex and Dianella callicarpa) and one sponge (Dactylospongia sp). The structures of these isolated compounds were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. This thesis also reports two new crystal structures, the identification of two new methylsilylated derivatives as well as the isolation of thirty seven previously reported compounds in which the complete structural assignment by one and two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) has been carried out on known compounds with incomplete or no NMR spectroscopic data. Furthermore, detailed spectroscopic analyses resulted in the re assignment of 1H and 13C chemical shifts for several previously isolated natural products. The biological screening (antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor assays) of crude extracts and isolated natural products has also been presented. The application of chemical profiling techniques including GCxGC and high pressure liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance (HPLC-NMR) were utilised to assist with the natural product dereplication process (chemical profiling), monitor chemical degradations in situ and to identify the presence of new natural products and artefacts. In total, fifteen separate terrestrial and marine organisms were investigated.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - Mpharm / Cancer is a major health problem worldwide and killing millions of people each year. The use of natural products as chemotherapeutic agents is well established, however, many of the currently available drugs are associated with undesirable side effects and high toxicity. Furthermore, the development of drug resistant cancers makes the search for anticancer lead compounds a priority. In this study a library of prefractionated marine sponge extracts was established and used to prioritise samples for isolation of bioactive metabolites. From the generated library, two of the sponges of genera Ircinia sp. and Latrunculid sp. resulted in isolation of furanosesterterpenes (7E,12Z,20Z,18S-variabilin) and pyrroloiminoquinone (tsitsikammamine A and tsitsikammamine N-18 oxime) alkaloids respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. These compounds displayed moderate to potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7, PC-3, U-87 and HEK-293 cells lines through apoptosis, with lack of selectivity for cancer cell lines.

Le but de ce travail de doctorat est l’étude chimique et biosynthétique de familles d’alcaloïdes guanidiniques d’origine marine provenant d’éponges de Méditerranée.Le travail est divisé en trois parties successives : 1) l’isolement d’alcaloïdes produits par des éponges marines de l’ordre des Poeciloscerida; 2) l’élucidation de la biosynthèse de la crambescine C1 par des études in vivo d’incorporation de précurseurs marqués au 14C; 3) la synthèse biomimétique de la crambescine A2 448 et de dérivés proches.La famille des alcaloïdes guanidiniques cycliques des crambescines est au coeur de la thèse, ces substances naturelles sont produites par l’éponge incrustante Crambe crambe. Ces alcaloïdes ont été découverts dans les années 1990 et ont suscité beaucoup d’intérêt pour leurs propriétés biologiques et écologiques et leurs synthèses totales. Par contre, leur biosynthèse était encore inconnue à ce jour. La seule synthèse biomimétique disponible était basée sur une hypothèse d’origine polyacétique. Les hypothèses récentes de nos groupes ont permis de mettre en avant une origine mixte: la partie cyclique guanidinique proviendrait d’un pyrrolidinium issu de l’arginine et d’un précurseur “céto-acide” proche des acides gras. Sur la base de cette hypothèse, nous avons mis au point une expérience d’incorporation qui a ensuite inspirée une voie de synthèse biomimétique pour l’accès aux crambescines et dérivés. Les premières conclusions quant à l’origine biosynthétique de ces molécules sont les faits les plus marquants de ce travail. Nous apportons une meilleure compréhension de la biochimie des alcaloïdes guanidiniques marins de structures complexes. / This thesis aims at the study of the chemical and biogenetic origin of specialized guanidine-alkaloid metabolites produced by sponges from the Mediterranean Sea.The work is divided into three main parts: 1) isolation of alkaloids produced by sponges of the Poeciloscerida order; 2) biosynthesis of crambescin C1 by in-vivo 14C-feeding experiments with Crambe crambe sponge; 3) biomimetic synthesis of crambescin A2 448 and derivatives. The main focus of the thesis will be the family of cyclic-guanidine alkaloids "crambescins", produced by the red incrusting sponge Crambe crambe.These alkaloids were discovered in the early 90s and despite the large interest on their biological activities, ecological roles, and synthesis, their biosynthesis is still unknown.The only available biomimetic synthesis of crambescins was based on a fully polyketide origin hypothesis. Recently our groups suggested an alternative biosynthetic hypothesis in which the guanidine-core would be originated from a condensation between a guanidinated pyrrolidinium derived from arginine and a beta-keto fatty acid. Based on this hypothesis, we designed a biosynthesis experiment that inspired a biomimetic synthesis route to access the crambescins and derivatives. The insights from these studies are the first experimental conclusions about the biosynthesis of crambescins. Finally, this work leads to a better comprehension of the biochemistry involved in guanidine marine alkaloids of complex structures.

Chemoreception plays an important role in predator-prey interactions and feeding dynamics. While the chemoreception of attractant or pleasant tasting compounds has been well studied, aversive chemoreceptive signaling has been difficult to investigate behaviorally in an ecological context because these interactions are species- and context- specific and deterrent compounds vary among prey. Using the coral reef system, this thesis explores on a molecular level the deterrent mechanism underlying detection by fish predators of an aversive compound, in order to gain a greater understanding of predator-prey interactions in this community. Like other organisms that are sessile or slow-moving, marine sponges have special mechanisms for defense from predation, commonly containing aversive-tasting compounds that defend these organisms from predation. To this end, we sought to identify and characterize a fish chemoreceptor that detects one or more of these compounds. We isolated a single cDNA clone encoding RAMP-like triterpene glycoside receptor (RL-TGR), a novel co-receptor involved in the signaling of triterpene glycosides. This co-receptor appears to be structurally and functionally related to receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs), a family of co-receptors that physically associate with and modify the activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Expression in Xenopus oocytes showed that it responds to triterpene glycosides in a receptor-mediated manner and requires co-expression of a GPCR to enable signaling in oocytes; both of these receptors may be components of a larger signaling complex. A 40 bp portion of the gene is conserved across multiple fish species, but is not found in any other organism with a sequenced genome, suggesting that the expression of this receptor is limited to fish species. RL-TGR is the first identified gene encoding a co-receptor that responds to a chemical defense. This finding may lead the way for the identification of many other receptors that mediate chemical defense signaling in both marine and terrestrial environments, as this protein has the potential to represent the first of an entire family of co-receptors that respond to aversive compounds.

A descoberta de fármacos a partir de produtos isolados de organismos marinhos tem apresentado um grande crescimento nos últimos anos, principalmente devido aos avanços tecnológicos analíticos, síntese química e biotecnologia. Dentre estes, as esponjas representam uma das principais fontes de metabólitos protótipos para diversas atividades, destacando-se os efeitos antitumorais. Neste contexto, este trabalho teve como objetivo a investigação química e biológica de três esponjas coletadas na costa sul-brasileira: Haliclona tubifera, Polymastia janeirensis e Scopalina ruetzleri. Considerando a correlação entre câncer, distúrbios da coagulação e desbalanço de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), foram realizados ensaios visando a aquisição destas atividades e a identificação de substâncias bioativas. Para a esponja H. tubifera foram observados interessantes efeitos antitumorais em células de glioma e neuroblastoma humano (IC50 < 20 μg/ml), além das atividades antioxidante e anticoagulante para a fração acetato de etila. O composto majoritário desta fração foi isolado como um derivado N-Boc e sua configuração foi estabelecida utilizando um novo protocolo de dicroísmo circular e semissíntese de derivados. Assim, este esfingosídeo de cadeia longa isolado (2R,3R,6R,7Z)-2-amino-7-octadecene-1,3,6-triol, foi denominado halisphingosine A. Um novo composto minoritário, halisphingosine B foi obtido usando técnicas de isolamento em escala nanomolar. Sua configuração absoluta foi estabelecida por comparação com o composto A. Da mesma forma, para a esponja S. ruetzleri, a fração acetato de etila demonstrou os resultados mais promissores. Um potencial efeito anticâncer e de inibição dos radicais peroxila foi observado. Além disso, um efeito modulador da peroxidação lipídica foi evidenciado em ensaio ex vivo de dienos conjugados. Através da análise por RMN de 1H, verificou-se que a fração era majoritariamente constituída por ácidos graxos, os quais foram derivatizados para caracterização por Cromatografia Gasosa (GC/FID). Foram identificados 32 ácidos graxos principalmente poli-insaturados (53%). Ácidos graxos minoritários não usuais para o ambiente marinho também foram caracterizados. A esponja P. janeirensis apresentou os efeitos citotóxicos mais promissores em células de glioma e neuroblastoma humano, com um IC50 < 1,0 μg/ml para o extrato aquoso (pH 6,8), sendo este efeito pH-dependente, uma vez que o extrato (pH 5,8) não alterou a viabilidade celular. Para P. janeirensis, foi também investigado seu potencial de defesa química em modelo de Zebrafish. Foi observado que o extrato aquoso desencadeia um efeito de fuga, alterando significativamente o comportamento espaço-temporal de peixes Danio rerio. Analisando em conjunto, os dados do presente trabalho representam uma nova contribuição para o estudo químico e biológico de espécies de esponjas marinhas da costa sul-brasileira e apontam as potencialidades destas esponjas na busca de moléculas protótipos para fármacos, especialmente relacionados à terapia do câncer. / Drug discovery from marine natural products has increased in the past few years, mainly due to technological advances in spectroscopy, chemical synthesis and biotechnology. Among all marine animals, sponges represent one of the major sources of prototype metabolites for several biological activities, highlighting the antitumor effects. In this context, this study carried out chemical and biological investigation of three sponges collected on the South Brazilian coastline: Haliclona tubifera, Polymastia janeirensis and Scopalina ruetzleri. Considering the correlation between cancer, clotting disorders and imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), experiments were conducted for acquisition of these activities and identification of bioactive compounds. H. tubifera showed an interesting cytotoxic effect in human neuroblastoma and glioma cell lines (IC50 <20 μg/ml), antioxidant and anticoagulant effect for ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction. The major compound of EtOAc fraction was isolated as an N-Boc derivative and its configuration was established using a new circular dichroism protocol with the production of semi-synthetic derivatives. This long chain sphingoid base (2R,3R,6R,Z)-2-aminooctadec-7-ene-1,3,6-triol was named as halisphingosine A. A new minor compound, halisphingosine B was obtained using nanomol scale techniques and their absolute configuration was established by comparison with compound A. Likewise, for the sponge S. ruetzleri, the EtOAc fraction showed the most promising results. A potential anticancer effect, inhibition of peroxyl radicals and modulation effect of lipid peroxidation was observed. Fingerprint 1H NMR analysis showed that this fraction is mainly constituted of fatty acids. Through Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAMEs) analysis by GC/FID, it was possible to identify 32 fatty acids, of which around 50% were Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs). In addition, some minor unusual fatty acids for the marine biosphere were identified. It was observed for P. janeirensis the most promising cytotoxic effects on human glioma and neuroblastoma cells, with an IC50 <1.0 μg/ml to aqueous extract (pH 6.8), being this effect pH-dependent, since the extract (pH 5.8) did not affect the cell viability. Moreover, P. janeirensis was investigated along their potential chemical defense in Zebrafish model. Aqueous extract trigged an escape effect, significantly altering the spatio-temporal swimming activity of animals. Taken together, the data presented from this study represent a new contribution to chemical and biological research of marine sponge species from South Brazilian coastline, and point the potentialities of sponges to search chemical prototypes for drugs, especially related to cancer therapy.