In vitro biosynthesis of prostaglandins in the White Sea soft coral Gersemia fruticosa : formation of optically active PGD2, PGE2, PGF2α and 15-keto-PGF2α from arachidonic acid

Abstract The White Sea soft coral Gersemia fruticosa has been found to convert exogeneous arachidonic acid to optically active prostaglandins D 2 , E 2 , F 2α and 15-keto-F 2α , all of which were also isolated as endogenous constituents from the same coral extracts. This is the first report of in vitro biosynthesis of “primary mammalian” prostiglandins in coral.