Pseudokeronopsis erythrina produces three new pigmented secondary metabolites, erythrolactones A2, B2 and C2, and their respective sulfate esters (A1, B1, C1), whose structures have been recently elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data coupled to high resolution mass measurements (HR-MALDI-TOF). We investigated if the erythrolactones stored in pigment granules of P. erythrina are involved in chemical defense against predators, by evaluating the toxic activity of these secondary metabolites on a panel of free-living ciliates and micro-invertebrates, and the activity of each purified erythrolactone on three ciliate species. This allowed us to recognize the structural trait that increases the biological activity of one of the three protozoan molecules. We also performed some observations on the prey/predator interaction of P. erythrina with unicellular and multicellular predators which highlight that erythrolactones can exert their defensive function by means of a complex and differentiated set of effects that can simply deter or discourage predation, or eventually lead to the predator’s death.

Erythrolactones, the chemical defense weapons of the ciliated protist, Pseudokeronopsis erythrina.

DI GIUSEPPE, GRAZIANO;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Pseudokeronopsis erythrina produces three new pigmented secondary metabolites, erythrolactones A2, B2 and C2, and their respective sulfate esters (A1, B1, C1), whose structures have been recently elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data coupled to high resolution mass measurements (HR-MALDI-TOF). We investigated if the erythrolactones stored in pigment granules of P. erythrina are involved in chemical defense against predators, by evaluating the toxic activity of these secondary metabolites on a panel of free-living ciliates and micro-invertebrates, and the activity of each purified erythrolactone on three ciliate species. This allowed us to recognize the structural trait that increases the biological activity of one of the three protozoan molecules. We also performed some observations on the prey/predator interaction of P. erythrina with unicellular and multicellular predators which highlight that erythrolactones can exert their defensive function by means of a complex and differentiated set of effects that can simply deter or discourage predation, or eventually lead to the predator’s death.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/811611
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