Structure and Biosynthesis of Perochalasins A-C, Open-Chain Merocytochalasans Produced by the Marine-Derived Fungus Peroneutypa sp. M16.

Novel open-chain merocytochalasans, perochalasins A-C (1-3), containing an unusual N-O six-membered heterocyclic moiety, were isolated from cultures of the marine-derived Peroneutypa sp. M16 fungus, along with cytochalasin Z27 (4), cytochalasin Z28 (5), [12]-cytochalasin (6), and phenochalasin B (7). The structures of compounds 1-3 were established by analysis of the spectroscopic data. Full genome sequencing of Peroneutypa sp. M16 enabled the identification of a cytochalasan biosynthetic gene cluster and a proposal for the biosynthetic assembly of perochalasins. The proposal is supported by the nonenzymatic conversion of phenochalasin B (7) into 1-3, based on isotope-labeled hydroxylamine (15NH2OH and ND2OD) feeding studies in vivo and in vitro. In contrast to other merocytochalasans, these are the first cytochalasans confirmed to arise via nucleophilic addition and at a distinct location from the reactive macrocycle olefin, potentially expanding further the range of merocytochalasans to be discovered or engineered. Cytochalasin Z27 (4) exhibited antiplasmodial activities in the low micromolar range against the chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain as well as against resistant strains of the parasite (Dd2, TM90C6B, and 3D7r_MMV848).