Endolides A and B, Vasopressin and Serotonin-Receptor Interacting N-Methylated Peptides from the Sponge-Derived Fungus Stachylidium sp.

The marine-derived fungus Stachylidium sp. was isolated from the sponge Callyspongia sp. cf. C. flammea. Culture on a biomalt medium supplemented with sea salt led to the isolation of two new, most unusual N-methylated peptides, i.e., the tetrapeptides endolide A and B (1 and 2). Both of these contain the very rare amino acid 3-(3-furyl)-alanine. In radioligand binding assays endolide A (1) showed affinity to the vasopressin receptor 1A with a K-i of 7.04 mu M, whereas endolide B (2) exhibited no affinity to the latter receptor, but was selective toward the serotonin receptor 5HT(2b) with a K-i of 0.77 mu M.