Disulfide- and Multisulfide-Containing Metabolites from Marine Organisms

Studies on puupehenone-metabolites of a Dysidea sp.: structure and biological activity

[EN] Puupchenone (1) and a series of its congeners (2-6) have been isolated from a Dysidea sponge. The unprecedented 20-acetoxyhater-unnadienone (2) exhibiting a five-membered contracted ring, has been characterized. In addition, stereochemical assignment of two previously reported acetone adducts of puupehenone (5 and 6) has been made. Finally, the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as antibacterial and antifungal activities of all compounds has been evaluated. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two-Armed Activation of Bone Mineral Deposition by the Flavones Baicalin and Baicalein, Encapsulated in Polyphosphate Microparticles

In this study, we investigated the effect of the two flavonoids, baicalin (baicalein 7-O-[Formula: see text]- d-glucuronic acid) and its aglycone, baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone), after encapsulation into amorphous calcium polyphosphate (Ca-polyP) microparticles on mineralization of primary human osteoblasts (phOSB). Both flavonoids, which come from root extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and are nontoxic in cells up to a concentration of 3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/ml. The morphogenetically active, energy-rich Ca-polyP particles with a stoichiometric P:Ca ratio of 1:2 are degraded by cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to…

Potentiation of the cytotoxic activity of copper by polyphosphate on biofilm-producing bacteria: A bioinspired approach

Adhesion and accumulation of organic molecules represent an ecologically and economically massive problem. Adhesion of organic molecules is followed by microorganisms, unicellular organisms and plants together with their secreted soluble and structure-associated byproducts, which damage unprotected surfaces of submerged marine structures, including ship hulls and heat exchangers of power plants. This is termed biofouling. The search for less toxic anti-biofilm strategies has intensified since the ban of efficient and cost-effective anti-fouling paints, enriched with the organotin compound tributyltin, not least because of our finding of the ubiquitous toxic/pro-apoptotic effects displayed b…

Interaction of the retinoic acid signaling pathway with spicule formation in the marine sponge Suberites domuncula through activation of bone morphogenetic protein-1

Abstract Background The formation of the spicules in siliceous sponges involves the formation of cylinder-like structures in the extraspicular space, composed of the enzyme silicatein and the calcium-dependent lectin. Scope of review Molecular cloning of the cDNAs (carotene dioxygenase, retinal dehydrogenase, and BMB-1 [bone morphogenic protein-1]) from the demosponge Suberites domuncula was performed. These tools were used to understand the retinoid metabolism in the animal by qRT-PCR, immunoblotting and TEM. Major conclusions We demonstrate that silintaphin-2, a silicatein-interacting protein, is processed from a longer-sized 15-kDa precursor to a truncated, shorter-sized 13 kDa calcium-b…