Sulfur-Containing Marine Bioactives 2.0

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2022) | Viewed by 11143

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
Interests: response of marine organisms to emerging contaminants; antioxidants; 5-thiohistidines; nitric oxide signalling; biotechnological potential of marine organisms
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Sulfur is an essential element for all living organisms, required by algae, plants, fungi, animals, and humans for growth and development. Many biomolecules containing sulfur are involved in many biological processes, including the maintenance of cell redox homeostasis, defense and detoxification. Alteration of sulfur compound metabolism may lead to several pathologies.

A great potential source of sulfur bioactive molecules is represented by the marine environment with its high species biodiversity and great chemical repertoire. The marine bioactive sulfur compounds cover peculiar chemical structures, ranging from thio-aminoacids/peptides to different sulfated derivatives.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present existing knowledge and recent studies on sulfur-containing marine compounds which are active on different biological systems.

I cordially invite researchers to contribute to this Special Issue by submitting original research articles and review papers.

Dr. Anna Palumbo
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

  • Sulfur compounds
  • Bioactive molecules
  • Marine natural products
  • Redox homeostasis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4965 KiB  
Article
Increased Sulfation in Gracilaria fisheri Sulfated Galactans Enhances Antioxidant and Antiurolithiatic Activities and Protects HK-2 Cell Death Induced by Sodium Oxalate
by Waraporn Sakaew, Jenjiralai Phanphak, Somsuda Somintara, Wiphawi Hipkaeo, Kanokpan Wongprasert, José Kovensky, Choowadee Pariwatthanakun and Tawut Rudtanatip
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(6), 382; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/md20060382 - 07 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
Urolithiasis is a common urological disease characterized by the presence of a stone anywhere along the urinary tract. The major component of such stones is calcium oxalate, and reactive oxygen species act as an essential mediator of calcium oxalate crystallization. Previous studies have [...] Read more.
Urolithiasis is a common urological disease characterized by the presence of a stone anywhere along the urinary tract. The major component of such stones is calcium oxalate, and reactive oxygen species act as an essential mediator of calcium oxalate crystallization. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and antiurolithiatic activities of sulfated polysaccharides. In this study, native sulfated galactans (N-SGs) with a molecular weight of 217.4 kDa from Gracilaria fisheri were modified to obtain lower molecular weight SG (L-SG) and also subjected to sulfation SG (S-SG). The in vitro antioxidant and antiurolithiatic activities of the modified substances and their ability to protect against sodium oxalate-induced renal tubular (HK-2) cell death were investigated. The results revealed that S-SG showed more pronounced antioxidant activities (DPPH and O2 scavenging activities) than those of other compounds. S-SG exhibited the highest antiurolithiatic activity in terms of nucleation and aggregation, as well as crystal morphology and size. Moreover, S-SG showed improved cell survival and increased anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein in HK-2 cells treated with sodium oxalate. Our findings highlight the potential application of S-SG in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sulfur-Containing Marine Bioactives 2.0)
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11 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
A Survey on the Distribution of Ovothiol and ovoA Gene Expression in Different Tissues and Cells: A Comparative Analysis in Sea Urchins and Mussels
by Carola Murano, Annalisa Zuccarotto, Serena Leone, Marco Sollitto, Marco Gerdol, Immacolata Castellano and Anna Palumbo
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(4), 268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/md20040268 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2257
Abstract
Ovothiols are histidine-derived thiols produced by a variety of marine invertebrates, protists and bacteria. These compounds, which are among the strongest natural antioxidants, are involved in controlling the cellular redox balance due to their redox exchange with glutathione. Although ovothiols were initially reported [...] Read more.
Ovothiols are histidine-derived thiols produced by a variety of marine invertebrates, protists and bacteria. These compounds, which are among the strongest natural antioxidants, are involved in controlling the cellular redox balance due to their redox exchange with glutathione. Although ovothiols were initially reported as protective agents against environmental stressors, new evidence suggests that they can also act as pheromones and participate in fundamental biological processes such as embryogenesis. To get further insight into the biological roles of ovothiols, we compared ovothiol biosynthesis in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, the two species that represent the richest sources of these compounds among marine invertebrates. Ovothiol content was measured in different tissues and in the immune cells from both species and the expression levels of ovoA, the gene responsible for ovothiol biosynthesis, was inferred from publicly available transcriptomes. A comparative analysis of ovothiol biosynthesis in the two species allowed the identification of the tissues and cells synthesizing the metabolite and highlighted analogies and differences between sea urchins and mussels. By improving our knowledge on the biological roles of ovothiols and pointing out the existence of sustainable natural sources for their isolation, this study provides the basis for future biotechnological investigations on these valuable compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sulfur-Containing Marine Bioactives 2.0)
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18 pages, 7094 KiB  
Article
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Orally Administered Monostroma nitidum Rhamnan Sulfate against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Damage to Mouse Organs and Vascular Endothelium
by Masahiro Terasawa, Keiichi Hiramoto, Ryota Uchida and Koji Suzuki
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(2), 121; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/md20020121 - 03 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3620
Abstract
We previously reported that rhamnan sulfate (RS) purified from Monostroma nitidum significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in cultured human vascular endothelial cells. Here, we analyzed the effect of orally administered RS on LPS-induced damage to mouse organs and vascular endothelium. RS (1 mg) [...] Read more.
We previously reported that rhamnan sulfate (RS) purified from Monostroma nitidum significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in cultured human vascular endothelial cells. Here, we analyzed the effect of orally administered RS on LPS-induced damage to mouse organs and vascular endothelium. RS (1 mg) was orally administered daily to BALB/c mice, 50 μg of LPS was intraperitoneally administered on day 8, and Evans blue was injected into the tail vein 6 h later. After 30 min, LPS-treated mice showed pulmonary Evans blue leakage and elevated plasma levels of liver damage markers, whereas this reaction was suppressed in LPS + RS-treated mice. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis of mouse organs 24 h after LPS treatment showed significant neutrophil infiltration into the lung, liver, and jejunum tissues of LPS-treated mice and high expression levels of inflammation-related factors in these tissues. Expression levels of these factors were significantly suppressed in LPS + RS-treated mice. Analysis of lung glycocalyx showed a significant reduction in glycocalyx in LPS-treated mice but not in LPS + RS-treated mice. Levels of syndecan-4, one of the glycocalyx components, decreased in LPS-treated mice and increased in LPS + RS-treated mice. The current results suggest that orally administered RS protects organs and vascular endothelium from LPS-induced inflammation and maintains blood circulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sulfur-Containing Marine Bioactives 2.0)
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20 pages, 2339 KiB  
Article
Chemical Structure and Anticoagulant Property of a Novel Sulfated Polysaccharide from the Green Alga Cladophora oligoclada
by Meijia He, Yajing Yang, Zhuling Shao, Junyan Zhang, Changning Feng, Lei Wang and Wenjun Mao
Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(10), 554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/md19100554 - 29 Sep 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2353
Abstract
Marine macroalgae are efficient producers of sulfated polysaccharides. The algal sulfated polysaccharides possess diverse bioactivities and peculiar chemical structures, and represent a great potential source to be explored. In the present study, a heparinoid-active sulfated polysaccharide was isolated from the green alga Cladophora [...] Read more.
Marine macroalgae are efficient producers of sulfated polysaccharides. The algal sulfated polysaccharides possess diverse bioactivities and peculiar chemical structures, and represent a great potential source to be explored. In the present study, a heparinoid-active sulfated polysaccharide was isolated from the green alga Cladophora oligoclada. Results of chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicated that the sulfated polysaccharide was composed of →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, β-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→ and →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→ units with sulfate esters at C-2/C-4 of →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, C-6 of →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→ and C-3 of →6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→ units. The branches consisting of β-d-Galp-(1→ and →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→ units were located in C-3 of →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→ units. The sulfated polysaccharide exhibited potent anticoagulant activity in vitro and in vivo as evaluated by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, and the fibrinogen level. For the APTT, the signal for clotting time was more than 200 s at 100 μg/mL in vitro and at 15 mg/kg in vivo. The obvious thrombolytic activity of the sulfated polysaccharide in vitro was also found. The mechanism analysis of anticoagulant action demonstrated that the sulfated polysaccharide significantly inhibited the activities of all intrinsic coagulation factors, which were less than 1.0% at 50 μg/mL, but selectively inhibited common coagulation factors. Furthermore, the sulfated polysaccharide strongly stimulated the inhibition of thrombin by potentiating antithrombin-III (AT-III) or heparin cofactor-II, and it also largely promoted the inhibition of factor Xa mediated by AT-III. These results revealed that the sulfated polysaccharide from C. oligoclada had potential to become an anticoagulant agent for prevention and therapy of thrombotic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sulfur-Containing Marine Bioactives 2.0)
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