Next Article in Journal
The Transcriptome of Bathymodiolus azoricus Gill Reveals Expression of Genes from Endosymbionts and Free-Living Deep-Sea Bacteria
Next Article in Special Issue
Ammonificins C and D, Hydroxyethylamine Chromene Derivatives from a Cultured Marine Hydrothermal Vent Bacterium, Thermovibrio ammonificans
Previous Article in Journal
Gene Sequence Based Clustering Assists in Dereplication of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea Strains with Identical Inhibitory Activity and Antibiotic Production
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Marine Drugs
Volume 10
Issue 8
10.3390/md10081741
marinedrugs-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role

by
Laura Núñez-Pons
1,*,
Marianna Carbone
2,
Jennifer Vázquez
1,
Jaime Rodríguez
3,
Rosa María Nieto
3,
María Mercedes Varela
4,
Margherita Gavagnin
2 and
Conxita Avila
1
1
Department of Animal Biology (Invertebrates), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona 08028, Catalunya, Spain
2
Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli I-80078, Napoli, Italy
3
Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Campus Zapateira, University of La Coruña, A Coruña 15071, Spain
4
Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante 03690, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Mar. Drugs 2012, 10(8), 1741-1764; https://doi.org/10.3390/md10081741
Submission received: 29 June 2012 / Revised: 1 August 2012 / Accepted: 8 August 2012 / Published: 20 August 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep-Sea Natural Products)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Ascidians have developed multiple defensive strategies mostly related to physical, nutritional or chemical properties of the tunic. One of such is chemical defense based on secondary metabolites. We analyzed a series of colonial Antarctic ascidians from deep-water collections belonging to the genera Aplidium and Synoicum to evaluate the incidence of organic deterrents and their variability. The ether fractions from 15 samples including specimens of the species A. falklandicum, A. fuegiense, A. meridianum, A. millari and S. adareanum were subjected to feeding assays towards two relevant sympatric predators: the starfish Odontaster validus, and the amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus. All samples revealed repellency. Nonetheless, some colonies concentrated defensive chemicals in internal body-regions rather than in the tunic. Four ascidian-derived meroterpenoids, rossinones B and the three derivatives 2,3-epoxy-rossinone B, 3-epi-rossinone B, 5,6-epoxy-rossinone B, and the indole alkaloids meridianins A–G, along with other minoritary meridianin compounds were isolated from several samples. Some purified metabolites were tested in feeding assays exhibiting potent unpalatabilities, thus revealing their role in predation avoidance. Ascidian extracts and purified compound-fractions were further assessed in antibacterial tests against a marine Antarctic bacterium. Only the meridianins showed inhibition activity, demonstrating a multifunctional defensive role. According to their occurrence in nature and within our colonial specimens, the possible origin of both types of metabolites is discussed.
Keywords: Antarctic colonial tunicates; deterrent activity; sea star Odontaster validus; amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus; antibacterial activity Antarctic colonial tunicates; deterrent activity; sea star Odontaster validus; amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus; antibacterial activity

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Núñez-Pons, L.; Carbone, M.; Vázquez, J.; Rodríguez, J.; Nieto, R.M.; Varela, M.M.; Gavagnin, M.; Avila, C. Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role. Mar. Drugs 2012, 10, 1741-1764. https://doi.org/10.3390/md10081741

AMA Style

Núñez-Pons L, Carbone M, Vázquez J, Rodríguez J, Nieto RM, Varela MM, Gavagnin M, Avila C. Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role. Marine Drugs. 2012; 10(8):1741-1764. https://doi.org/10.3390/md10081741

Chicago/Turabian Style

Núñez-Pons, Laura, Marianna Carbone, Jennifer Vázquez, Jaime Rodríguez, Rosa María Nieto, María Mercedes Varela, Margherita Gavagnin, and Conxita Avila. 2012. "Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role" Marine Drugs 10, no. 8: 1741-1764. https://doi.org/10.3390/md10081741

APA Style

Núñez-Pons, L., Carbone, M., Vázquez, J., Rodríguez, J., Nieto, R. M., Varela, M. M., Gavagnin, M., & Avila, C. (2012). Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role. Marine Drugs, 10(8), 1741-1764. https://doi.org/10.3390/md10081741

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop