Karmitoxin: An Amine-Containing Polyhydroxy-Polyene Toxin from the Marine Dinoflagellate Karlodinium armiger

J Nat Prod. 2017 May 26;80(5):1287-1293. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00860. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

Abstract

Marine algae from the genus Karlodinium are known to be involved in fish-killing events worldwide. Here we report for the first time the chemistry and bioactivity of a natural product from the newly described mixotrophic dinoflagellate Karlodinium armiger. Our work describes the isolation and structural characterization of a new polyhydroxy-polyene named karmitoxin. The structure elucidation work was facilitated by use of 13C enrichment and high-field 2D NMR spectroscopy, where 1H-13C long-range correlations turned out to be very informative. Karmitoxin is structurally related to amphidinols and karlotoxins; however it differs by containing the longest carbon-carbon backbone discovered for this class of compounds, as well as a primary amino group. Karmitoxin showed potent nanomolar cytotoxic activity in an RTgill-W1 cell assay as well as rapid immobilization and eventual mortality of the copepod Acartia tonsa, a natural grazer of K. armiger.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Dinoflagellida / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Marine Toxins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyenes / chemistry*
  • Polyenes / isolation & purification
  • Polyenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Marine Toxins
  • Polyenes
  • karmitoxin