New Polyketides from the Antarctic Fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. HSX2#-11

The species Pseudogymnoascus is known as a psychrophilic pathogenic fungus with a ubiquitous distribution in Antarctica. Meanwhile, the study of its secondary metabolites is infrequent. Systematic research of the metabolites of the fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. HSX2#-11, guided by the method of molecular networking, led to the isolation of one novel polyketide, pseudophenone A (1), along with six known analogs (2-7). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic investigation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Pseudophenone A (1) is a dimer of diphenyl ketone and diphenyl ether, and there is only one analog of 1 to the best of our knowledge. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antibacterial activities against a panel of strains. This is the first time to use molecular networking to study the metabolic profiles of Antarctica fungi.

Automated summary

Pseudogymnoascus is a psychrophilic pathogenic fungus widely distributed in Antarctica, and studies on its secondary metabolites are rare. Through systematic research guided by molecular networking, a novel polyketide, pseudophenone A, along with six known analogs, was isolated from the fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. HSX2#-11. The structure of the new compound was elucidated through extensive spectroscopic investigation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Pseudophenone A exhibited antibacterial activities against a panel of strains, marking the first use of molecular networking to study the metabolic profiles of Antarctica fungi.