11-Deoxyfistularin-3, a new cytotoxic metabolite from the Caribbean sponge Aplysina fistularis insularis

Sponge of the Verongida genera including Verongula, Pseudoceratina, Ianthella, and Psammaplysilla have been intensively studied due the presence of alkaloids with one, or more bromotyrosine residues. 2 Many of these metabolites show interesting antibiotic 3 and cytotoxic properties in cell lines. 4 Recently, particular interest has been given to the chemical analysis of these species because the presence of the bromotyrosine derivatives seems to be peculiar to the order and can be used as a chemical marker to support taxonomic work. 5 Previous reports on Aplysina fistularis insularis (Duchassaing & Michelotti) (family Aplisinidae) have documented the presence of a wide number of interesting metabolites, mainly of the bromotyrosine type. Examples of these brominated metabolites are the fistularins, 6 aerothionins, 7 ceratinamines, 8 aplysamines, 9 ana