Three minor microcystins have been isolated from a Planktothrix rubescens strain. Their structures have been elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry as the compounds [Asp(3),(E)-Dhb(7)]MC-LY (1), [Asp(3),(E)-Dhb(7)]MC-HtyW (2), and [Asp(3),(E)-Dhb(7)]MC-LW (3). The amino acids found at the variable positions 2 and 4 of the microcystin core structure are in accordance with the predicted amino acid substrate activation selectivities of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetases McyA and McyB described earlier for this strain. All structural microcystin variants produced by this strain were shown to inhibit protein phosphatase 1 in the nanomolar range.
Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Microcystins; Planktothrix; Protein phosphatase inhibition.