Methods for Obtaining Bioactive Compounds from Phytoplankton

• US 20110129851A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rutgers University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Original Assignee: Rutgers University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Inventors: Bidle, Kay Daniel, Fredricks, Helen F., Haramaty, Liti, Van Mooy, Benjamin A. S., Vardi, Assaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2510/00 Detection of programmed cell death, i.e. apoptosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5044 involving specific cell types
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5097 involving plant cells immunoassays of plant cells G01N33/56961

Abstract

Phytoplankton represent a potential source of bioactive compounds. The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for identifying glycerolipids and apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids from virally-infected phytoplankton.

Claims

1. A method for isolating one or more apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids, comprising:

(a) obtaining a sample of one or more sphingosine-like lipids from a virally-infected phytoplankton;

(b) contacting a target cell with the sample; and

(c) assaying the target cell for apoptosis-associated activity in the presence of the sample;

wherein apoptosis-associated activity in the target cell indicates that the sample comprises one or more apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phytoplankton are coccolithophores.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the coccolithophores are E. huxleyi.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virus is a coccolithovirus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the coccolithovirus is EhV86.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating the one or more apoptosis-inhibiting sphingosine-like lipids from the sample.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target cell is a prokaryotic cell.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target cell is a eukaryotic cell.

9. A method of manufacturing one or more sphingosine-like lipids, comprising:

(a) infecting phytoplankton with a virus;

(b) culturing the infected phytoplankton; and

(c) isolating the one or more sphingosine-like lipids from the infected phytoplankton.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more sphingosine-like lipids are apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids.

11. A method of manufacturing one or more glycerolipids, comprising:

(a) infecting phytoplankton with a virus;

(b) culturing the infected phytoplankton; and

(c) isolating the one or more glycerolipids from the infected phytoplankton.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more glycerolipids are capable of inhibiting viral-mediated apoptosis.

13. A method for isolating one or more glycerolipids capable of inhibiting viral-mediated apoptosis, comprising:

(a) obtaining a sample of one or more glycerolipids from a virally-infected phytoplankton;

(b) contacting a target cell with the sample; and

(c) assaying the target cell for apoptosis-associated activity in the presence of the sample and further in the presence of a virus that induces apoptosis in the target cell in the absence of the sample;

wherein a decrease in apoptosis-associated activity in the target cell relative to the activity in the absence of the sample indicates that the sample comprises one or more glycerolipids capable of inhibiting viral-mediated apoptosis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the phytoplankton are coccolithophores.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coccolithophores are E. huxleyi.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the virus is a coccolithovirus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coccolithovirus is EhV86.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising isolating the one or glycerolipids from the sample.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the target cell is a prokaryotic cell.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the target cell is a eukaryotic cell.

21. A compound having a structure a structure of formula (I)

22. A glycerolipid characterized as having a mass spectra pattern substantially the same as that shown in one or both of FIGS. 8 and 9.