Nazumazoles D-F, Cyclic Pentapeptides That Inhibit Chymotrypsin, from the Marine Sponge Theonella swinhoei.

Abstract

Nazumazoles D-F (1-3) were isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. The compounds gave extremely broad peaks by reversed-phase HPLC using an ODS column. HPLC using a gel permeation column was instrumental for the separation of the three compounds. Their planar structures were determined by interpretation of NMR data to be cyclic pentapeptides. Nazumazoles D-F contained one residue each of α-keto-l-norvaline (l-Knv) {or α-keto-d-leucine (l-Kle)}, l-alanyloxazole (l-Aox), d-Abu (or d-Ser), N-α-CHO-β-l-Dpr, and cis-4-methyl-l-proline. The absolute configuration of each amino acid residue was determined by Marfey's method in combination with conversion of the α-keto-β-amino acid to the α-amino acid by oxidation. Nazumazoles D-F are not cytotoxic against P388 cells at 50 μM, but inhibit chymotrypsin.