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A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 17853

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Dr. Natalia V. Zhukova

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National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo str. 17, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
Interests: lipid biochemistry; fatty acids, lipids; lipid metabolism; lipid analysis; trophic biomarkers; mollusks; algae; symbiosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The diversity of species in the vast oceanic environment represents the virtually limitless potential of marine biological resources. Marine organisms possess a great range of chemical compounds exhibiting various biological activities that may have implications for human health. Major groups of marine organisms such as echinoderms, cnidarians, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, fungi, and bacteria are considered especially promising natural resources for obtaining valuable products. Some of them have a high nutritional value, being a source of essential compounds, while others can potentially be used in the pharmaceutical industry. In Russia, there are a number of scientific schools developing the fundamental ideas laid down by their founders that use the huge, but still unexplored, diversity of marine life with its newly discovered substances and biosynthetic potential. These research teams, having the unique natural resources of the Pacific Ocean available, develop and implement advanced ideas, search for new substances, investigate chemical structures, carry out chemical synthesis of analogues, test biological activities, and design novel drugs for the benefit of health, nutritional science, and medicine. They have formed fruitful collaborations with several research institutions worldwide.

This Special Issue aims to cover the progress in searching for organisms rich in bioactive compounds and studying promising molecules isolated from unique natural resources.

We welcome the submission of comprehensive/brief reviews, original research papers, and communications.

Dr. Natalia V. Zhukova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Russia
marine natural products
invertebrates
sea grass
mollusks
marine symbiotic bacteria
sponges
corals
microalgae
macroalgae

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipidome of the Brown Macroalga Undaria pinnatifida: Influence of Season and Endophytic Infection

by Ksenia Chadova and Peter Velansky

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(9), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21090466 - 25 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1290

Abstract

An analysis of the lipidome of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales) was performed’ more than 900 molecular species were identified in 12 polar lipids and 1 neutral lipid using HPLC/MS-MS. The seasonal changes of U. pinnatifida lipidome were determined. It was shown that acclimatization to winter and spring was accompanied by an increase in the unsaturation of both polar and neutral lipids. In autumn and summer, on the contrary, the contents of more saturated molecular species of all lipid classes increased. Based on the data obtained, a scheme for the polar and neutral lipid synthesis in brown algae was proposed. In addition, the influence of infection with the brown filamentous endophyte Laminariocolax aecidioides (Ectocarpales) on U. pinnatifida lipidome was studied. It was found that infection has the most noticeable effect on the molecular species composition of triacylglycerides, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylhydroxyethylglycine of the host macrophyte. In infected samples of algae, changes in the composition of triacylglycerides were revealed both in areas with the presence of an endophyte and in adjacent intact tissues, which may indicate the occurrence of a secondary infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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20 pages, 1399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

1-O-alkyl-glycerols from Squid Berryteuthis magister Reduce Inflammation and Modify Fatty Acid and Plasmalogen Metabolism in Asthma Associated with Obesity

by Yulia Denisenko, Tatyana Novgorodtseva, Marina Antonyuk, Alla Yurenko, Tatyana Gvozdenko, Sergey Kasyanov, Ekaterina Ermolenko and Ruslan Sultanov

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(6), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21060351 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2014

Abstract

Asthma associated with obesity is considered the most severe phenotype and can be challenging to manage with standard medications. Marine-derived 1-O-alkyl-glycerols (AGs), as precursors for plasmalogen synthesis, have high biological activity, making them a promising substance for pharmacology. This study aimed to investigate the effect of AGs from squid Berryteuthis magister on lung function, fatty acid and plasmalogen levels, and cytokine and adipokine production in obese patients with asthma. The investigational trial included 19 patients with mild asthma associated with obesity who received 0.4 g of AGs daily for three months in addition to their standard treatment. The effects of AGs were evaluated at one and three months of treatment. The results of the study demonstrated that intake of AGs increased the FEV1 and FEV1/VC ratios, and significantly decreased the ACQ score in 17 of the 19 patients after three months of treatment. The intake of AGs increased concentration of plasmalogen and n–3 PUFA in plasma, and modified leptin/adiponectin production by adipose tissue. The supplementation of AGs decreased the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-17a), and oxylipins (TXB2 and LTB4), suggesting an anti-inflammatory property of AGs. In conclusion, 1-O-alkyl-glycerols could be a promising dietary supplement for improving pulmonary function and reducing inflammation in obese asthma patients, and a natural source for plasmalogen synthesis. The study highlighted that the beneficial effects of AG consumption can be observed after one month of treatment, with gradual improvement after three months of supplementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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15 pages, 2200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Properties of Marine Alkyl Glycerol Ethers in Chronic Stress

by Ruslan M. Sultanov, Tatiana S. Poleshchuk, Ekaterina V. Ermolenko and Sergey P. Kasyanov

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(4), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21040202 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1699

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the effect of alkyl glycerol ethers (AGs) from the squid Berryteuthis magister on a chronic stress model in rats. The study was performed on 32 male Wistar rats. Animals received AGs at a dose of 200 mg/kg through a gavage for six weeks (1.5 months), and were divided into four groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (animals received AGs), group 3 (stress control), group 4 (animals received AGs and were subjected to stress). Chronic immobilization stress was induced by placing each rat into an individual plexiglass cages for 2 h daily for 15 days. The serum lipid spectrum was evaluated by the content of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The atherogenic coefficient was calculated. The hematological parameters of peripheral blood were evaluated. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio was counted. The levels of cortisol and testosterone in blood plasma were determined. AGs at the selected dose did not have a significant effect on the body weight of rats in the preliminary period of the experiment. Under stress, the body weight gain, the concentrations of very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood triglycerides decreased significantly. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio in animals treated with AGs shifted towards lymphocytes. A favorable increase in the percentage of lymphocytes was found in the stressed group of animals treated with AGs. So, for the first time, it was found that AGs prevent stress-induced suppression of the immune system. This confirms the benefit of AGs for the immune system under chronic stress. Our results prove the efficiency of the use of AGs for treating chronic stress, a serious social problem in modern society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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17 pages, 3344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recombinant Analogs of Sea Anemone Kunitz-Type Peptides Influence P2X7 Receptor Activity in Neuro-2a Cells

by Evgeny A. Pislyagin, Ekaterina S. Menchinskaya, Irina N. Gladkikh, Aleksandra N. Kvetkina, Oksana V. Sintsova, Darya V. Popkova, Sergei A. Kozlovskiy, Tatiana Y. Gorpenchenko, Galina N. Likhatskaya, Leonid A. Kaluzhskiy, Alexis S. Ivanov, Yaroslav A. Andreev, Sergey A. Kozlov, Pavel S. Dmitrenok, Dmitry L. Aminin and Elena V. Leychenko

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(3), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21030192 - 20 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2016

Abstract

Purinergic P2X7 receptors (P2X7) have now been proven to play an important role and represent an important therapeutic target in many pathological conditions including neurodegeneration. Here, we investigated the impact of peptides on purinergic signaling in Neuro-2a cells through the P2X7 subtype in in vitro models. We have found that a number of recombinant peptides, analogs of sea anemone Kunitz-type peptides, are able to influence the action of high concentrations of ATP and thereby reduce the toxic effects of ATP. The influx of calcium, as well as the fluorescent dye YO-PRO-1, was significantly suppressed by the studied peptides. Immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that the peptides reduce the P2X7 expression level in neuronal Neuro-2a cells. Two selected active peptides, HCRG1 and HCGS1.10, were found to specifically interact with the extracellular domain of P2X7 and formed stable complexes with the receptor in surface plasmon resonance experiments. The molecular docking approach allowed us to establish the putative binding sites of the most active HCRG1 peptide on the extracellular domain of the P2X7 homotrimer and propose a mechanism for regulating its function. Thus, our work demonstrates the ability of the Kunitz-type peptides to prevent neuronal death by affecting signaling through the P2X7 receptor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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17 pages, 4042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Bioactive β-Resorcylic Acid Derivatives from the Alga-Derived Fungus Penicillium antarcticum KMM 4685

by Elena V. Leshchenko, Alexandr S. Antonov, Gleb V. Borkunov, Jessica Hauschild, Olesya I. Zhuravleva, Yuliya V. Khudyakova, Alexander S. Menshov, Roman S. Popov, Natalya Yu Kim, Markus Graefen, Carsten Bokemeyer, Gunhild von Amsberg, Anton N. Yurchenko and Sergey A. Dyshlovoy

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(3), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21030178 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2569

Abstract

Five new β-resorcylic acid derivatives, 14-hydroxyasperentin B (1), β-resoantarctines A-C (3, 5, 6) and 8-dehydro-β-resoantarctine A (4), together with known 14-hydroxyasperentin (5′-hydroxyasperentin) (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fungus Penicillium antarcticum KMM 4685 associated with the brown alga Sargassum miyabei. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and modified Mosher’s method, and the biogenetic pathways for compounds 3–6 were proposed. For the very first time, the relative configuration of the C-14 center of a known compound 2 was assigned via analyses of magnitudes of the vicinal coupling constants. The new metabolites 3–6 were biogenically related to resorcylic acid lactones (RALs); however, they did not possess lactonized macrolide elements in their structures. Compounds 3, 4 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity in LNCaP, DU145 and 22Rv1 human prostate cancer cells. Moreover, these metabolites could inhibit the activity of p-glycoprotein at their noncytotoxic concentrations and consequently synergize with docetaxel in p-glycoprotein-overexpressing drug-resistant cancer cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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15 pages, 40120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synaptamide Modulates Astroglial Activity in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

by Arina Ponomarenko, Anna Tyrtyshnaia, Darya Ivashkevich, Ekaterina Ermolenko, Inessa Dyuizen and Igor Manzhulo

Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(8), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20080538 - 21 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2593

Abstract

At present, the study of the neurotropic activity of polyunsaturated fatty acid ethanolamides (N-acylethanolamines) is becoming increasingly important. N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide, DHEA) is a highly active metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with neuroprotective, synaptogenic, neuritogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties in the nervous system. Synaptamide tested in the present study was obtained using a chemical modification of DHA isolated from squid Berryteuthis magister liver. The results of this study demonstrate the effects of synaptamide on the astroglial response to injury in the acute (1 day) and chronic (7 days) phases of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) development. HPLC-MS study revealed several times increase of synaptamide concentration in the cerebral cortex and serum of experimental animals after subcutaneous administration (10 mg/kg/day). Using immunohistochemistry, it was shown that synaptamide regulates the activation of GFAP- and S100β-positive astroglia, reduce nNOS-positive immunostaining, and stimulates the secretion of neurotrophin BDNF. Dynamics of superoxide dismutase production in synaptamide treatment confirm the antioxidant efficacy of the test compound. We found a decrease in TBI biomarkers such as GFAP, S100β, and IL-6 in the blood serum of synaptamide-treated experimental animals using Western blot analysis. The results indicate the high therapeutic potential of synaptamide in reducing the severity of the brain damage consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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Review

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22 pages, 2533 KiB

Open AccessReview

Invertebrate C1q Domain-Containing Proteins: Molecular Structure, Functional Properties and Biomedical Potential

by Andrei Grinchenko, Ivan Buriak and Vadim Kumeiko

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(11), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21110570 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2382

Abstract

C1q domain-containing proteins (C1qDC proteins) unexpectedly turned out to be widespread molecules among a variety of invertebrates, despite their lack of an integral complement system. Despite the wide distribution in the genomes of various invertebrates, data on the structure and properties of the isolated and characterized C1qDC proteins, which belong to the C1q/TNF superfamily, are sporadic, although they hold great practical potential for the creation of new biotechnologies. This review not only summarizes the current data on the properties of already-isolated or bioengineered C1qDC proteins but also projects further strategies for their study and biomedical application. It has been shown that further broad study of the carbohydrate specificity of the proteins can provide great opportunities, since for many of them only interactions with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) was evaluated and their antimicrobial, antiviral, and fungicidal activities were studied. However, data on the properties of C1qDC proteins, which researchers originally discovered as lectins and therefore studied their fine carbohydrate specificity and antitumor activity, intriguingly show the great potential of this family of proteins for the creation of targeted drug delivery systems, vaccines, and clinical assays for the differential diagnosis of cancer. The ability of invertebrate C1qDC proteins to recognize patterns of aberrant glycosylation of human cell surfaces and interact with mammalian immunoglobulins indicates the great biomedical potential of these molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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16 pages, 3148 KiB

Open AccessReview

Coral Lipidome: Molecular Species of Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Betaine Lipids, and Sphingophosphonolipids

by Tatyana V. Sikorskaya

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(6), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21060335 - 30 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2727

Abstract

Coral reefs are the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems in the world’s oceans. Coral establishes complex interactions with various microorganisms that constitute an important part of the coral holobiont. The best-known coral endosymbionts are Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. Each member of the coral microbiome contributes to its total lipidome, which integrates many molecular species. The present study summarizes available information on the molecular species of the plasma membrane lipids of the coral host and its dinoflagellates (phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), ceramideaminoethylphosphonate, and diacylglyceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine), and the thylakoid membrane lipids of dinoflagellates (phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and glycolipids). Alkyl chains of PC and PE molecular species differ between tropical and cold-water coral species, and features of their acyl chains depend on the coral’s taxonomic position. PS and PI structural features are associated with the presence of an exoskeleton in the corals. The dinoflagellate thermosensitivity affects the profiles of PG and glycolipid molecular species, which can be modified by the coral host. Coral microbiome members, such as bacteria and fungi, can also be the source of the alkyl and acyl chains of coral membrane lipids. The lipidomics approach, providing broader and more detailed information about coral lipid composition, opens up new opportunities in the study of biochemistry and ecology of corals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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36 pages, 3592 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fatty Acids of Echinoderms: Diversity, Current Applications and Future Opportunities

by Natalia V. Zhukova

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21010021 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6997

Abstract

The phylum Echinodermata comprising the classes Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea, and Crinodeia, is one of the important invertebrate groups. Members of this phylum live exclusively in marine habitats and are distributed in almost all depths and latitudes. Some of them, such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, are commercially valuable and constitute a major fishery resource. Echinoderms are increasingly recognized as a unique source of various metabolites with a wide range of biological activities. The importance of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid, in human health has drawn attention to echinoderms as a promising source of essential fatty acids (FAs). Extensive information on the FAs of the phylum has been accumulated to date. The biosynthetic capabilities and feeding habits of echinoderms explain the findings of the unusual FAs in them. Certain common and unusual FAs may serve as chemotaxonomic markers of the classes. The main goal of the review was to gather the relevant information on the distribution of FAs among the echinoderm classes, describe the structures, distribution, biosynthetic pathways, and bioactivity, with an emphasis on the FAs specific for echinoderms. A large part of the review is devoted to the FAs derived from echinoderms that exhibit various biological activities promising for potential therapeutic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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45 pages, 3301 KiB

Open AccessReview

Marine Natural Products from the Russian Pacific as Sources of Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases

by Yuri S. Khotimchenko, Denis N. Silachev and Vladimir L. Katanaev

Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(11), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20110708 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3575

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are growing to become one of humanity’s biggest health problems, given the number of individuals affected by them. They cause enough mortalities and severe economic impact to rival cancers and infections. With the current diversity of pathophysiological mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases, on the one hand, and scarcity of efficient prevention and treatment strategies, on the other, all possible sources for novel drug discovery must be employed. Marine pharmacology represents a relatively uncharted territory to seek promising compounds, despite the enormous chemodiversity it offers. The current work discusses one vast marine region—the Northwestern or Russian Pacific—as the treasure chest for marine-based drug discovery targeting neurodegenerative diseases. We overview the natural products of neurological properties already discovered from its waters and survey the existing molecular and cellular targets for pharmacological modulation of the disease. We further provide a general assessment of the drug discovery potential of the Russian Pacific in case of its systematic development to tackle neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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9 pages, 1062 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Alkyl Glycerol Ethers as Adaptogens

by Ruslan Sultanov, Ekaterina Ermolenko, Tatiana Poleshchuk and Sergey Kasyanov

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21010004 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2135

Abstract

Τhis mini-review summarizes the hematopoietic and immunostimulating properties of alkyl glycerol ethers (AGs) reported earlier in the literature available to us. The role of AGs in the nervous system and aging of the body are also briefly described. We made an attempt to consider the data in terms of adaptation. The hematopoietic, immunostimulating and antioxidant properties of AGs in a variety of experimental situations, including stress, as well as the protective action of AGs against some adaptation diseases, allow us to consider them as substances that prevent some negative effects of stress and promote adaptation. The new approach to AGs as adaptogens seems promising and opens good opportunities for their new application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Russia)

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