Identification of marine neuroactive molecules in behaviour-based screens in the larval zebrafish

Mar Drugs. 2014 May 30;12(6):3307-22. doi: 10.3390/md12063307.

Abstract

High-throughput behavior-based screen in zebrafish is a powerful approach for the discovery of novel neuroactive small molecules for treatment of nervous system diseases such as epilepsy. To identify neuroactive small molecules, we first screened 36 compounds (1-36) derived from marine natural products xyloketals and marine isoprenyl phenyl ether obtained from the mangrove fungus. Compound 1 demonstrated the most potent inhibition on the locomotor activity in larval zebrafish. Compounds 37-42 were further synthesized and their potential anti-epilepsy action was then examined in a PTZ-induced epilepsy model in zebrafish. Compound 1 and compounds 39, 40 and 41 could significantly attenuate PTZ-induced locomotor hyperactivity and elevation of c-fos mRNA in larval zebrafish. Compound 40 showed the most potent inhibitory action against PTZ-induced hyperactivity. The structure-activity analysis showed that the OH group at 12-position played a critical role and the substituents at the 13-position were well tolerated in the inhibitory activity of xyloketal derivatives. Thus, these derivatives may provide some novel drug candidates for the treatment of epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / chemistry
  • Anticonvulsants / isolation & purification
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Biological Products / chemistry
  • Biological Products / isolation & purification
  • Biological Products / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Fungi / chemistry
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods
  • Larva
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Pentylenetetrazole
  • Phenyl Ethers / chemistry
  • Phenyl Ethers / isolation & purification
  • Phenyl Ethers / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Pyrans / chemistry
  • Pyrans / isolation & purification
  • Pyrans / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Biological Products
  • Phenyl Ethers
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Pyrans
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Pentylenetetrazole