Maigheotides A-C, Peptides from the Deep-Sea Black Coral Phanopathes sp.

Smith, Benjamin, Afoullouss, Sam, Netjes, Jennifer, Allcock, A. Louise, Johnson, Mark P., & Baker, Bill J. (2025). Maigheotides A-C, Peptides from the Deep-Sea Black Coral Phanopathes sp. Journal of natural products. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5c01028

Abstract

Black corals are poorly studied with respect to their secondary metabolite chemistry. With the aim of discovering new bioactive metabolites, we collected deep-sea black corals from the Irish continental margin. Our analysis of the black coral Phanopathes sp. yielded three new peptides (maigheotides A-C). Through a combination of 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, and Marfey’s analysis, the absolute configuration of all three structures was elucidated. The maigheotides are characterized by a non-canonical amino acid ΔZ -Trp, the cyclized N-terminal Glu (pyroGlu), and C-terminal amide (maigheotide B). Similar characteristics are critical features found in neuropeptides. Screening in a number of assays has identified only weak activity, although the breadth of assays screened was limited by the small mass of peptides obtained.

Funder

Science Foundation Ireland
Marine Institute
European Union
U.S. National Institutes of Health
Irish Research Council
National Science Foundation

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Rights

CC BY-NC-ND

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Collections

Zoology (Scholarly Articles)