Production of methylated oxindole alkaloids analogues by precursor-directed biosynthesis using Uncaria tomentosa species

• Grant number: 17/04645-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2017
• End date: September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Aparecida Lopes
• Grantee: Marinna Stella Purcino da Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07349-9 - Oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa: biosynthetic studies and alkaloids analogues obtained by precursor-directed biosynthesis, AP.JP

Abstract

Discovery of new chemical molecules and/or the chemical modification of an existing natural products can lead to medicinal purposes in order to produce new drugs. This natural product diversification is called "precursor-directed biosynthesis" (BDP), and is the goal of this project. The natural product targeted for this structural diversification is oxindole alkaloids class which may be pentacyclic (AOP) or tetracyclic (AOT) that are accumulated in the medicinal species Uncaria tomentosa. The BDP experiments will aim new AOP and AOT analogs by supplementation of two methylated tryptamine analogs; 5-methyl-tryptamine and 7-methyl-tryptamine (main indole biosynthetic precursor) in vitro culture medium of U. tomentosa. Currently the plantlets of the medicinal U. tomentosa are already "in vitro" at the Unidade de Biotecnologia da Universidade de Ribeirao Preto (UNAERP). Obtaining new methylated analogues of AOP and AOT produced by U. tomentosa will aim to broaden the therapeutic options since they may be more active than the natural product. (AU)