Structure-Activity Relationships of Natural C-9-Methyl-Substituted 10-Membered Lactones and Their Semisynthetic Derivatives

J Nat Prod. 2024 Apr 26;87(4):914-923. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c01216. Epub 2024 Apr 8.

Abstract

Fungal 10-membered lactones (TMLs), such as stagonolide A, herbarumin I, pinolidoxin, and putaminoxin, are promising candidates for the development of nature-derived herbicides. The aim of this study was to analyze the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of C-9-methyl-substituted TMLs with a multitarget bioassay approach to reveal compounds with useful (phytotoxic, entomotoxic, antimicrobial) or undesirable (cytotoxic) bioactivities. A new TML, stagonolide L (1), along with five known compounds (stagonolides D (2) and E (3), curvulides A (4) and B1/B2 (5a,b), and pyrenolide C (6)), were purified from cultures of the phytopathogenic fungus Stagonospora cirsii, and five semisynthetic derivatives of 3 and 4 (7-11) were obtained. The absolute configuration of 4 was revised to 2Z, 4S, 5S, 6R, and 9R. The identity of 5a,b and stagonolide H is discussed. The phytotoxicity of compound 4, the entomotoxicity of 5a,b, and nonselective toxicity of compound 6 are demonstrated. The latter confirms the hypothesis that the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group is associated with the high general toxicity of TML, regardless of its position in the ring and other substituents. The epoxide in compound 4 is important for phytotoxicity. The revealed SAR patterns will be useful for further rational design of TML-based herbicides including curvulide A analogs with a 4,5-epoxy group.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascomycota / chemistry
  • Herbicides* / chemistry
  • Herbicides* / pharmacology
  • Lactones* / chemistry
  • Lactones* / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Lactones
  • Herbicides