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Salicylic acid and its derivatives elicit the production of diterpenes and sterols in corals and their algal symbionts: a metabolomics approach to elicitor SAR

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Abstract

Introduction

The production of marine drugs in its normal habitats is often low and depends greatly on ecological conditions. Chemical synthesis of marine drugs is not economically feasible owing to their complex structures. Biotechnology application via elicitation represents a promising tool to enhance metabolites yield that has yet to be explored in soft corals.

Objectives

Study the elicitation impact of salicylic acid (SA) and six analogues in addition to a systemic acquired resistance inducer on secondary metabolites accumulation in the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi along with the symbiont zooxanthellae and if SA elicitation effect is extended to other coral species S. glaucum and Lobophyton pauciliforum.

Methods

Post elicitation in the three corals and zooxanthella, metabolites were extracted and analyzed via UHPLC-MS coupled with chemometric tools.

Results

Multivariate data analysis of the UHPLC-MS data set revealed clear segregation of SA, amino-SA, and acetyl-SA elicited samples. An increased level ca. 6- and 8-fold of the diterpenes viz., sarcophytonolide I, sarcophine and a C28-sterol, was observed in SA and amino-SA groups, respectively. Post elicitation, the level of diepoxy-cembratriene increased 1.5-fold and 2.4-fold in 1 mM SA, and acetyl-SA (aspirin) treatment groups, respectively. S. glaucum and Lobophyton pauciliforum showed a 2-fold increase of diepoxy-cembratriene levels.

Conclusion

These results suggest that SA could function as a general and somewhat selective diterpene inducing signaling molecule in soft corals. Structural consideration reveals initial structure–activity relationship (SAR) in SA derivatives that seem important for efficient diterpene and sterol elicitation.

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Abbreviations

C:

Control

SA:

Salicylic acid

CSA:

2,6 dichloroisonicotinic acid

ASA:

Acetylsalicylic acid,aspirin, acteyl-SA

NSA:

4-amino salicylic acid, amino-SA

NTSA:

3,5 dinitro salicylic acid

MeSA:

Methyl salicylate (ester)

BTH:

Benzo-1,2,3-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid; acibenzolar

BA:

Benzoic acid

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Acknowledgements

Dr. M.A. Farag thanks the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (HWK), Germany, for financial support. The study was further supported by the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Researchand the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini St., P.B. 11562, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Farag

  2. Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Farag

  3. 3Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-BuhouthSt., Dokki, P.O.12622, Giza, Egypt

    Amal A. Maamoun

  4. Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Fahrenheit Str.6, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Achim Meyer

  5. Dept. Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Ludger A. Wessjohann

Authors
  1. Mohamed A. Farag
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  2. Amal A. Maamoun
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  3. Achim Meyer
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  4. Ludger A. Wessjohann
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Contributions

M.A.F. and A.M. conducted the experiments; M.A.F. performed the data analysis, A.A.M., M.A.F. and L.A.W. co-wrote the manuscript; M.A.F and L.A.W. designed the study and edited the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mohamed A. Farag.

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Farag, M.A., Maamoun, A.A., Meyer, A. et al. Salicylic acid and its derivatives elicit the production of diterpenes and sterols in corals and their algal symbionts: a metabolomics approach to elicitor SAR. Metabolomics 14, 127 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-018-1416-y

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