Methods for obtaining bioactive compounds from phytoplankton
Phytoplankton represent a potential source of bioactive compounds. The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for identifying glycerolipids and apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids from virally-infected phytoplankton.
1. A method for identifying one or more apoptosis-inducing glycosylated sphingolipids, comprising:
(a) obtaining a sample of one or more glycosylated sphingolipids from a virally-infected phytoplankton;
(b) contacting a target cell with the sample;
(c) assaying the target cell for apoptosis-associated activity in the presence of the sample;
wherein apoptosis-associated activity in the target cell indicates that the sample comprises one or more apoptosis-inducing glycosylated sphingolipids.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the phytoplankton are coccolithophores.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the coccolithophores are E. huxleyi.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virus is a coccolithovirus.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the coccolithovirus is EhV86.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising isolating the one or more apoptosis-inhibiting glycosylated sphingolipids from the sample.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target cell is a prokaryotic cell.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target cell is a eukaryotic cell.
9. A method of manufacturing one or more glycosylated sphingolipids, comprising:
(a) infecting phytoplankton with a virus;
(b) culturing the infected phytoplankton; and
(c) isolating the one or more glycosylated sphingolipids from the infected phytoplankton.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more glycosylated sphingolipids are apoptosis-inducing glycosylated sphingolipids.
11. A method for identifying one or more glycerolipids capable of inhibiting viral-mediated apoptosis, comprising:
(a) obtaining a sample of one or more glycerolipids from a virally-infected phytoplankton;
(b) contacting a target cell with the sample; and
(c) assaying the target cell for apoptosis-associated activity in the presence of the sample and further in the presence of a virus that induces apoptosis in the target cell in the absence of the sample;
wherein a decrease in apoptosis-associated activity in the target cell relative to the apoptosis-associated activity in the absence of the sample indicates that the sample comprises one or more glycerolipids capable of inhibiting viral-mediated apoptosis.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the phytoplankton are coccolithophores.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the coccolithophores are E. huxleyi.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the virus is a coccolithovirus.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the coccolithovirus is EhV86.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising isolating the one or more glycerolipids from the sample.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the target cell is a prokaryotic cell.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the target cell is a eukaryotic cell.