A method for the large-scale extraction ofNeotyphodium lolii (formerlyAcremonium lolii) infectedLolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) seed was optimized so as to efficiently obtain
lolitrem B, the tremorgenic
indole-
diterpenoid compound thought to be the principal causative agent of the
neurotoxic disorder ryegrass staggers. In a period of two weeks, 30 kg of seed could be processed yielding 125mg of pure, crystalline
lolitrem B.In addition to
lolitrem B, fifteen lolitrem analogues were isolated from the seed extracts and their structures determined by mass spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. All but one of these analogues were previously unknown. Furthermore, three compounds related to
paxilline, thought to be a precursor of
lolitrem B were isolated fromPenicillium paxilli cultures.The isolation of the lolitrem and
paxilline analogues provided much information on the likely pathways of lolitrem biosynthesis, and a detailed pathway is proposed.
Paspaline was identified as the crucial intermediate in
indole-
diterpenoid biosynthesis, rather than
paxilline, as previously thought. It is proposed that new endophyte incapable of biosynthesizing this substance will not produce any
indole-
diterpenoid tremorgens.Many of the lolitrem and
paxilline derivatives isolated in the course of this study were tested for tremorgenic action in mice. These studies have identified a number of strucural features which are necessary for tremorgenic effect. Slow onset and long-duration
tremors are characteristic of lolitrem compounds. For this effect, the
acetal-linked
isoprene unit and the stereochemistry at the A/B ring junction were identified as important. In contrast,
paxilline compounds induce fast-onset and short-duration
tremors. For this effect a C-13 α-orientated
hydroxyl group is essential and the C-10 functionality is important. The extensive study of structure-activity relationships described in this thesis also suggests that lolitrem and
paxilline compounds may exert their effects by binding to different target sites. Others have proposed that the more readily available
paxilline be used as a model for the lolitrems in trials to select for animals resistant to ryegrass staggers, but the above observations suggest, however, that such an approach would not be successful.