Dereplication Guided Discovery of Secondary Metabolites of Mixed Biosynthetic Origin from Aspergillus aculeatus

Investigation of the chemical profile of the industrially important black filamentous fungus Aspergillus aculeatus by UHPLC-DAD-HRMS and subsequent dereplication has led to the discovery of several novel compounds. Isolation and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses allowed for structural elucidation of a dioxomorpholine, a unique okaramine, an aflavinine and three novel structures of mixed biosynthetic origin, which we have named aculenes A-C. Moreover, known analogues of calbistrins, okaramines and secalonic acids were detected. All novel compounds were tested for antifungal activity against Candida albicans, however all showed only weak or no activity. Aspergillus aculeatus IBT 21030 was additionally shown to be capable of producing sclerotia. Examination of the sclerotia revealed a highly regulated production of metabolites in these morphological structures.