Parguerol and Isoparguerol Isolated from the Sea Hare, Aplysia kurodai, Induce Neurite Outgrowth in PC-12 Cells

New Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Compounds Isolated from the Sea Hare, Aplysia kurodai

The extract of the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai, showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Bioassay-guided purification afforded four active compounds, which were identified to be laurinterol, laurinterol acetate, debromolaurinterol, and debromolaurinterol acetate by spectroscopic analysis. Although the acetates were derived from laurinterol a...

Aplysiasecosterols B and C: two new 9,11-secosteroids with a cis-fused 1,4-quinone structure from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai

Comprehensive enzymatic analysis of the amylolytic system in the digestive fluid of the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai: Unique properties of two α-amylases and two α-glucosidases

Sea lettuce (Ulva pertusa) is a nuisance species of green algae that is found all over the world. East-Asian species of the marine gastropod, the sea hare Aplysia kurodai, shows a clear feeding preference for sea lettuce. Compared with cellulose, sea lettuce contains a higher amount of starch as a storage polysaccharide. However, the entire amylolytic system in the digestive fluid of A. kurodai...

Synthetic Efforts for Stereo Structure Determination of Cytotoxic Marine Natural Product Pericosines as Metabolites of Periconia sp. from Sea Hare

Pericosines are unique C(7) cyclohexenoid metabolites of Periconia byssoides OUPS-N133 fungus that was originally isolated from the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai. Pericosines show significant in vitro cytotoxicity against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells. Pericosine A, in particular, shows the most potent activity and significant in vivo antitumor activity against P388 cells. Thus, pericosines are p...

Isolation, Amino Acid Sequences, and Plausible Functions of the Galacturonic Acid-Binding Egg Lectin of the Sea Hare Aplysia kurodai

Egg lectins occur in a variety of animals ranging from mollusks to vertebrates. A few examples of molluscan egg lectins have been reported, including that of the sea hare Aplysia kurodai; however, their biological functions in the egg remain unclarified. We report the isolation, determination of primary structure, and possible functions of A.kurodai lectin (AKL) from the egg mass of A. kurodai....