Rhapsamine, a Cytotoxin from the Antarctic Sponge Leucetta leptorhapsis

✍ Scribed by Gamini S. Jayatilake; Bill J. Baker; James B. McClintock

• Book ID: 104258104
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 512 KB
• Volume: 38
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0040-4039
• DOI: 10.1016/s0040-4039(97)01802-9

✦ Synopsis

Bioassayguidedfractionationof the cytotoxiccrudeextractfrom the antarcticsponge

Leucetta Iepforhopsis has resultedin the isolationof rhapsarnine(l), a linear C28pdyene terminally substitutedby 1,3-diaminoglycerol groups. @ 1997Elsevier Science Ltd.

Calcareous sponges belonging to the genus Leucefta have been the subject of several recent chemical investigations resulting in the isolation of a variety of bioactive alkaloids. '-'oAmong the most bioactive alkaloids reported are a cytotoxic imidazole alkaloid from a Micronesia specimen,4 a leukotriene Bdreceptor antagonist from a Palauan specimen ofL. rrricroraphis,'and antimicrobial lipids from a Micronesia L. microraphis.8 Leucetta Zeptorhapsisis a common member of the benthic community of Ross Island, Antarctica, and has been reported to possess cytotoxicity" and other ecological bioactivity.'2 We have investigated the chemical basis of this bioactivity and report herein a cytotoxic constituent.