Isolation of an Extract from the Soft Coral Symbiotic Microorganism Salinispora arenicola Exerting Cytoprotective and Anti-Aging Effects

Cells have developed a highly integrated system responsible for proteome stability, namely the proteostasis network (PN). As loss of proteostasis is a hallmark of aging and age-related diseases, the activation of PN modules can likely extend healthspan. Here, we present data on the bioactivity of an extract (SA223-S2BM) purified from the strain Salinispora arenicola TM223-S2 that was isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya lewinsohni; this coral was collected at a depth of 65 m from the mesophotic Red Sea ecosystem EAPC (south Eilat, Israel). Treatment of human cells with SA223-S2BM activated proteostatic modules, decreased oxidative load, and conferred protection against oxidative and genotoxic stress. Furthermore, SA223-S2BM enhanced proteasome and lysosomal-cathepsins activities in Drosophila flies and exhibited skin protective effects as evidenced by effective inhibition of the skin aging-related enzymes, elastase and tyrosinase. We suggest that the SA223-S2BM extract constitutes a likely promising source for prioritizing molecules with anti-aging properties.

New compounds from Sarcophyton glaucom-derived Penicillium sp.

Further investigation of the residual bioactive compounds produced by the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucom-derived Penicillium sp. MMA afforded five new compounds assigned as 9-methoxy-penicyrone A (1), 9-methoxy-penicyrone B (2), 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-pentyl ester (3), 3-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-2,2-dimethyl-propyl ester (4), and 3-isobutyryloxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-pentyl linoleate (5). Additional six known compounds were isolated: penicyrones A–B (6, 7), 4-(2-hydroxy-3-butynoxy)benzoic acid (8), cyclopenol (9), aspermytin A (10), and aurantiomide A (11). Structures of the new compounds (1–5) were identified by 1D (1H & 13C) and 2 D (1H–1H COSY, HMBC and NOESY) NMR and HRESI-MS spectroscopic data. Biologically, the antimicrobial activities of the obtained compounds were studied as well.

Cyclic Peptides from the Soft Coral-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sclerotiorum SCSIO 41031

Three novel cyclic hexapeptides, sclerotides C–E (1–3), and a new lipodepsipeptide, scopularide I (4), together with a known cyclic hexapeptide sclerotide A (5), were isolated from fermented rice cultures of a soft coral-derived fungus: Aspergillus sclerotiorum SCSIO 41031. The structures of the new peptides were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, Marfey’s method, ESIMS/MS analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Scopularide I (4) exhibited acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 15.6 μM, and weak cytotoxicity against the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE-EBV with IC50 values of 10.1 μM.