title: ET743: Chemical analysis of the sea squirt Ecteinascidia turbinata ecosystem.
abstract: The sea squirt Ecteinascidia turbinata produces the powerful drug ET743. In this study Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) are systematically used to measure elemental and molecular species in a Florida Keys mangrove ecosystem that contains the sea squirt. ICP-AES is used to measure the concentration of 27 elements down to the parts per billion level in 16 organisms and 3 sediment samples that reside in the mangrove ecosystem including turtle grass, blue crabs, fire sponge, and lettuce slugs. MALDI-MS is used to search for ET743 in these same organisms and sediment samples. A mass spectral feature corresponding to ET743 is identified in the extract of the sea squirt, red mangrove root (Rhizophera mangle), the schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus griseus), and a sediment sample taken from the ecosystem. We use MALDI-MS to study the impact that various environmental conditions, such as UV light, I(2), cation binding (Fe(+3), Zn(+2), Pb(+2), Cu(+2)), metal oxide nanoparticles (FeO, CuO, TiO(2), ZnO, Al(2)O(3)), a common mineral (CaCO(3)), and extremes in acidity (0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M NaOH) have on the ET743 structure. The data provide potential structures (degradation products, metal-ligand complexes, etc.) that might be present in organism or sedimentary extracts that are similar to ET743. We are studying the marine geochemistry of this ecosystem so a broth can be developed and tested for producing this marine natural product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia 31698, USA. tmanning@valdosta.edu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loftis
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demaria
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudloe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes; D005431:Florida; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D043982:Rhizophoraceae; D012623:Seawater; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014561:Urochordata
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004149:Dioxoles; D007546:Isoquinolines; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin