Publicaciones

The red seaweed Laurencia viridis is a rich source of oxygenated secondary metabolites that were derived from squalene. We report here the structures of three novel compounds, (+)-longilene peroxide (1), longilene (2), and (+)-prelongilene (3) that were isolated from this alga, in addition to other substances, 4 and 5, resulting from their acid-mediated degradation. The effect of compounds 1 and 3 against Ser-Thr protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) was evaluated, showing that (+)-longilene peroxide (1) inhibited PP2A (IC 11.3 µM). In order to explain the interaction between PP2A and compounds 1 and 3, molecular docking simulations onto the PP2A enzyme-binding region were used.

Two new brominated bis(indole) alkaloids, dragmacidins I (1) and J (2), showing low micromolar cytostatic activity, along with three known congeners were isolated from the Tanzanian sponge Dragmacidon sp. and their structures determined by the analysis of their NMR and MS data. From the study of their mechanism of action, it can be concluded that the mitotic arrest at metaphase in treated tumor cells, mediated by inhibition of PP1 and/or PP2A phosphatases is involved in the observed antiproliferative activity. Differences in their bioactivities were rationalized, and a plausible binding mode is proposed on the basis of computational simulations.

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier 1797) is a promising species for aquaculture diversification, but the massive mortality during the first life stage is the main bottleneck for its commercial production. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of different live preys (Artemia and crustacean zoeae) and/or Artemia enrichment protocols in the paralarval growth by using a meta-analysis approach. A total of 26 independent assays were used, including data from the bibliography and from experiments carried out by our group. Three comparisons were established: (i) crustacean zoeae vs. Artemia, (ii) different crustacean zoeae species and (iii) Artemia enriched with marine lecithin (rich in polar lipids-PL and docosahexaenoic acid-DHA) vs. previously used Artemia enrichments. The meta-analysis approach allowed a quantitative review of independent studies with reliable conclusions, avoiding the subjectivity inherent to classical reviews. The outputs provided statistical confirmation of the better suitability of crustacean zoeae with respect to Artemia. However, not all crustacean species showed the same results, given that the high variability on Grapsus zoeae hampered finding significant differences with respect to the control treatment (Artemia). Nutrient composition and biometry of the different types of prey are discussed as possible causes of the differences arising from the meta-analysis. Finally, the present results suggest that marine lecithin has a beneficial effect on paralarval growth with respect to previously used enrichments, which could be related to the increase in DHA and PL in Artemia, given the essential role of these lipid components in octopus paralarval physiology.

This paper is the first report of a large research project for the preventive conservation and tourism management of the Altamira World Heritage site that was conducted from 2012 to 2014 and focused on a key feature of the project estimating the potential economic impacts of reopening the Altamira cave to the public. The study analyzed the direct and indirect economic impacts of visitors to Altamira on the regional economy of Cantabria, a Spanish Autonomous Community. Using an input-output method (IO), we estimated the values accrued to the region. This study provides the scientific foundation for the development of an effective tourism management program for the Altamira Complex, analyzing the impact of its access regime and offering policy recommendations on the broader regional economic impact of Altamira.

Nine new cembranoids 1–9 containing an α–methylene–γ–butyrolactone together with the known diterpenes 10–15 have been isolated from a crude extract of Eunicea sp. and their structures were established by spectroscopic methods. The proliferative effect of six of these compounds on insulin-producing cells (beta–cells) was evaluated.

Red algae of Laurencia continue to provide wide structural diversity and complexity of halogenated C acetogenin medium-ring ethers. Here, we described the isolation of three new C acetogenins (3–5), and one truncated derivative (6) from Laurencia viridis collected on the Canary Islands. These compounds are interesting variations on the pinnatifidenyne structure that included the first examples of ethynyl oxirane derivatives (3–4). The structures were elucidated by extensive study of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) data, J-based configuration analysis and DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculations. Their antiproliferative activity against six human solid tumor cell lines was evaluated.

This opinion article addresses the implications of recent EU regulations on alcoholic drinks labeling for regional development. In March 2017, the European Commission released a report requiring the mandatory labeling of ingredients and nutritional information for alcoholic beverages within 1 year, putting an end to the exceptionality of this sector compared to other foodstuffs, and responding to pressing demands by European consumer associations and other actors. Pressure from the alcohol sector had delayed EU legislation on the matter and managed to avoid a mandatory labeling provision, instead generating the possibility of making its own regulation proposal within a year. The Commission will assess this proposal in March 2018 and could review or reject it if found to be unsatisfactory. Here, we want to examine the controversy elicited by this new regulation, analyzing the consequences of labeling (or not) in the particular case of wine regions. It shows how the lack of labeling regulations harms winemakers oriented towards the production of quality wines and generates important information asymmetries that can lead to an overall decrease of wine quality. Ultimately, it highlights the relevance of a regional perspective on EU sectoral policies, as these can have unintended effects and lead to contradictory outcomes. The example of wine regions is used to emphasize this issue by showing the need to harmonize regional cohesion and CAP policies with industrial, environmental and consumer protection policies.

Several arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans and represent important public health problems in their endemic regions. In addition, evidence indicates that the worldwide-distributed prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. There are no licensed arenavirus vaccines, and current antiarenavirus therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective. Therefore, there is an unmet need for novel therapeutics to combat human pathogenic arenaviruses, a task that will be facilitated by the identification of compounds with antiarenaviral activity that could serve as probes to identify arenavirus-host interactions suitable for targeting, as well as lead compounds to develop future antiarenaviral drugs. Screening of a combinatorial library of Krönhke pyridines identified compound KP-146 [(5-(5-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4] dioxin-6-yl)-4′-methoxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide] as having strong anti-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) activity in cultured cells. KP-146 did not inhibit LCMV cell entry but rather interfered with the activity of the LCMV ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) responsible for directing virus RNA replication and gene transcription, as well as with the budding process mediated by the LCMV matrix Z protein. LCMV variants with increased resistance to KP-146 did not emerge after serial passages in the presence of KP-146. Our findings support the consideration of Kröhnke pyridine scaffold as a valuable source to identify compounds that could serve as tools to dissect arenavirus-host interactions, as well as lead candidate structures to develop antiarenaviral drugs.

Transition metal-free radical arylation of heteroarenes is achieved at room temperature by simply adding aqueous sodium carbonate to a solution of the corresponding heteroarene and arenediazonium salt, which can even be formed in situ. Such an easy, inexpensive and mild methodology has been optimized and applied to the expeditious modification of interesting molecular cores like naphthylimide or bisthienylcyclopentenes.

Two new chloro-furanocembranolides (1, 2) and two new 1,4-diketo cembranolides (3, 4) were isolated from the crude extract of Leptogorgia sp. together with a new seco-furanocembranolide (5) and the known Z-deoxypukalide (6), rubifolide (7), scabrolide D (8) and epoxylophodione (9). Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic evidence. Four compounds: 1, 2, 7 and 8 were found to activate the proliferation of pancreatic insulin-producing (beta) cells.