Molecular Networking-Based Screening Led to the Discovery of a Cyclic Heptadepsipeptide from an Endolichenic Xylaria sp

MS/MS-based molecular networking strain prioritization led to the discovery of a group of cyclic depsipeptides from an endolichenic Xylaria sp. The main component, xylaroamide A (1), was obtained by LC-MS-guided isolation. The planar structure of compound 1 was elucidated via ID and 2D NMR, as well as MS/MS data. The configurations were fully determined by the combination of advanced Marfey's analysis, partial hydrolysis, Mosher's reaction, and GIAO NMR calculation based on a restricted conformational search. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for xylaroamide A (1) involving a rare trans-acting N-methyltransferase is proposed based on bioinformatics analysis. Xylaroamide A (1) exhibited inhibitory activity against cancer cell lines BT-549 and RKO with IC50 values of 2.5 and 9.5 mu M, respectively.

Automated summary

This study utilized MS/MS-based molecular networking strain prioritization to discover a group of cyclic depsipeptides from an endolichenic Xylaria sp. The main component, xylaroamide A (1), was isolated using LC-MS guidance. Elucidation of the compound's structure and configuration was achieved through ID and 2D NMR, as well as MS/MS data. The compound exhibited inhibitory activity against cancer cell lines BT-549 and RKO, making it a potentially valuable candidate for drug development.