Diverse metabolites of coral reef organisms

Tanaka, Junichi; Kuniyoshi, Masayuki; Tanaka, Chiaki; Issa, Hamad H.; Balansa, Walter; Otsuka, Masahito; Githige, Wahome P.; Higa, Tatsuo

doi:10.1351/pac200577010083

Pure Appl. Chem., 2005, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 83-89

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200577010083

Diverse metabolites of coral reef organisms

Junichi Tanaka, Masayuki Kuniyoshi, Chiaki Tanaka, Hamad H. Issa, Walter Balansa, Masahito Otsuka, Wahome P. Githige and Tatsuo Higa*

Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

Abstract: A detailed mechanism for the spontaneous transformation of 2-chloro-1-hydroxyoctoda-3(8),5-dien-4-one, a metabolite of Portieria hornemanni, into 4,5‑dimethylbenzo[b]furan was presented. Five new terpenoids have been isolated from the red alga Laurencia luzonensis. Five species of sponges yielded various metabolites: furanosesterterpenes from Ircinia sp., scalarane derivatives from Phyllospongia sp., polyketides from Theonella cf. swinhoei, a polyacetylene from Callyspongia sp., and cyclic depsipeptides from Suberites japonicus. Other new metabolites were sponge-derived secomanoalide derivative and imidazole alkaloids from nudibranchs, briarane class diterpenes from octocorals, and cyclofarnesylated hydroquinones, floresolides A-C, from an ascidian, Aplidium sp. Many of these compounds showed cytotoxicity.