Structure Elucidation and Relative Toxicity of (24 R)-24-Hydroxyyessotoxin from a Namibian Isolate of Gonyaulax spinifera

J Nat Prod. 2019 Jul 26;82(7):1945-1952. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00318. Epub 2019 Jul 8.

Abstract

Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis of a Namibian strain of Gonyaulax spinifera showed the presence of a number of yessotoxins (YTXs). Principal among these were YTX (1), homoYTX (2), and a tentative hydroxylated analogue that did not correspond to any previously confirmed YTX structures. Culturing the G. spinifera strain afforded sufficient biomass for purification of the new analogue through a series of solvent partitioning and chromatographic steps, yielding ∼0.9 mg as a solid. NMR spectroscopy, ion-trap mass spectrometry, and HRMS identified the new analogue as 24-hydroxyYTX (7). Purified 24-hydroxyYTX was quantitated by NMR, and its relative toxicity evaluated using two embryonic zebrafish toxicity assays. 24-HydroxyYTX demonstrated reduced toxicity compared to YTX.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Dinoflagellida / chemistry*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Molecular Structure
  • Zebrafish / embryology