Calmodulin inhibitors from the fungus Emericella sp

Bioorg Med Chem. 2009 Mar 15;17(6):2167-74. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.10.079. Epub 2008 Nov 5.

Abstract

Two new xanthones identified as 15-chlorotajixanthone hydrate (1) and 14-methoxytajixanthone (2) were isolated from an Emericella sp. strain 25379 along with shamixanthone (3) and tajixanthone hydrate (4). The stereostructures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic and molecular modeling methods. The absolute configuration at the stereogenic centers of 1 was established according to CD measurements. In the case of 2, however, the absolute configuration at C-20 and C-25 was designated as S and R, respectively, by Mosher ester methodology. Thereafter, the configuration at C-14 and C-15 of 2 was established as S and S, respectively by comparing the optical rotation and (1)H-(1)H coupling constant experimental values with those obtained through molecular modeling calculations at DFT B3LYP/DGDZVP level of theory for diasteroisomers 2a-2d. The activation of the calmodulin-sensitive cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE1) was inhibited in the presence of 1-4 in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of compounds 2 (IC(50)=5.54 microM) and 4 (IC(50)=5.62 microM) was comparable with that of chlorpromazine (CPZ; IC(50)=7.26 microM), a well known CaM inhibitor used as a positive control. The inhibition mechanism of both compounds was competitive with respect to CaM according to a kinetic study. A docking analysis with 2 and 4 using the AutoDock 4.0 program revealed that they interacted with CaM in the same pocket as trifluoropiperazine (TFP).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calmodulin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Emericella / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
  • Xanthones / chemistry
  • Xanthones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 14-methoxytajixanthone
  • 15-chlorotajixanthone
  • Calmodulin
  • Xanthones