Antiproliferative activity against human non-small cell lung cancer of two O-alkyl-diglycosylglycerols from the marine sponges Myrmekioderma dendyi and Trikentrion laeve.

Glycolipids of Myrmekioderma sponges contain Myrmekiosides, a new family of glycolipids with a unique structure of mono-O-alkyl-diglycosylglycerols. This report deals with the identification and biological activity of the new Myrmekioside E from Myrmekioderma dendyi. Its structure has been elucidated from spectroscopic data and chemical degradation studies.

SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ULVAN IN TWO ULVA SPECIES (CHLOROPHYTA) FROM THE BRITTANY COAST(1).

The seasonal variability in the extraction yield, physicochemical characteristics, and rheological properties of ulvan from two Ulva species contributing to Brittany "green tides" has been studied. These seaweeds were collected in the water column for Ulva armoricana Dion, de Reviers et Coat and on hard substrata for Ulva rotundata Bliding. The maximum ulvan extraction efficiency was not related to the maximum ulvan content in the seaweeds, but with the active growth period of the seaweeds.

Ultrastructure of ulvan: a polysaccharide from green seaweeds.

Ultrastructural analysis of the gel forming green seaweed sulfated polysaccharide ulvan revealed a spherical-based morphology (10-18 nm diameter) more or less aggregated in aqueous solution. At pH 13 in TBAOH (tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxyde) or NaOH, ulvan formed an open gel-like structure or a continuous film by fusion or coalescence of bead-like structures, while in acidic pH conditions, ulvan appeared as dispersed beads. Low concentrations of sodium chloride, copper or boric acid induced the formation of aggregates.

Structure and functional properties of ulvan, a polysaccharide from green seaweeds.

With today's interest in novel renewable chemicals and polymers, the underexploited marine green algae belonging to species of Ulva and Entermorpha stimulated interest as sources of polysaccharides with innovative structure and functional properties. These algae are common on all seashores and can produce in time an important amount of biomass in nutrient-enriched waters. The major water-soluble polysaccharide, ulvan, extracted from the cell wall represents about 8-29% of the algae dry weight.

An efficient two-step total synthesis of the quaterpyridine nemertelline.

Regioselective and univocal Suzuki cross-coupling reactions performed on halopyridinyl boronic acids provide a flexible and versatile route to a multigram scale synthesis of 2,2'-dichloro-3,4'-bipyridine 14, which allows couplings with excess pyridin-3-yl boronic acid to give a new and efficient two-step rapid synthesis of nemertelline, the quaterpyridine neurotoxin isolated from a Hoplonemertine sea worm.