Metabolite Profiling of Triterpene Glycosides of the Far Eastern Sea Cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix and Their Distribution in Various Body Components Using LC-ESI QTOF-MS.

Roman Popov,Vladimir Kalinin,Sergey Avilov,Natalia Ivanchina,Alexandra Silchenko,Valentin Stonik,Igor Dolmatov,Pavel Dmitrenok

doi:10.3390/md15100302

Abstract

The Far Eastern sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix is an inhabitant of shallow waters of the south part of the Sea of Japan. This animal is an interesting and rich source of triterpene glycosides with unique chemical structures and various biological activities. The objective of this study was to investigate composition and distribution in various body components of triterpene glycosides of the sea cucumber E. fraudatrix. We applied LC-ESI MS (liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry) of whole body extract and extracts of various body components for metabolic profiling and structure elucidation of triterpene glycosides from the E. fraudatrix. Totally, 54 compounds, including 26 sulfated, 18 non-sulfated and 10 disulfated glycosides were detected and described. Triterpene glycosides from the body walls, gonads, aquapharyngeal bulbs, guts and respiratory trees were extracted separately and the distributions of the detected compounds in various body components were analyzed. Series of new glycosides with unusual structural features were described in E. fraudatrix, which allow clarifying the biosynthesis of these compounds. Comparison of the triterpene glycosides contents from the five different body components revealed that the profiles of triterpene glycosides were qualitatively similar, and only some quantitative variabilities for minor compounds were observed.

Highlights

Sea cucumbers (Class Holothuroidea, Phylum Echinodermata) are widespread slow-moving marine animals
Profiling of E. fraudatrix was performed by LC-ESI MS
MS and MS/MS data allowed the structural identification of the triterpene glycosides to be performed

Summary

Introduction

Sea cucumbers (Class Holothuroidea, Phylum Echinodermata) are widespread slow-moving marine animals. Metabolome of these animals is characterized by the high content of triterpene glycosides of a great structural diversity. Triterpene glycosides of sea cucumbers have unique chemical structures, significantly differing from those of terrestrial plants. These compounds possess a variety of biological and pharmacological effects including cytotoxic [1,2], antifungal [3,4], bactericidal, hemolytic, antiviral and antiparasitic properties [5]. Some glycosides are capable to induce apoptosis, inhibit the. Mar. Drugs 2017, 15, 302; doi:10.3390/md15100302 www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs

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