New nitrogenous compounds from a Red Sea sponge from the Gulf of Aqaba.

Chemical investigation of an unknown marine sponge, which was collected in the Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan), afforded a new brominated alkaloid 3-amino-1-(2-amino-4-bromophenyl)propan-1-one (1), as well as 7-bromoquinolin-4(1H)-one (2) which had previously only been reported as a synthetic compound. In addition, caulerpin (6), previously only known to be produced by algae, was likewise isolated. Furthermore, three known alkaloids including (Z)-5-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-hydantoin, (Z)-6-bromo-3'-deimino-2',4'-bis(demethyl)-3'-oxoaplysinopsin, and 6-bromoindole-3-carbaldehyde (3-5), were also obtained.

Optimization of enniatin production by solid-phase fermentation of Fusarium tricinctum.

Enniatins are cyclic depsipeptides produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium that are of interest due to their pronounced biological activities; especially enniatins A, A1, B, and B1 possess anticarcinogenic and anti-HIV properties. In the present study, F. tricinctum was grown on seven solid media and in one liquid growth medium with or without addition of peptone or of amino acid precursors in order to identify favourable media with simple cultivation conditions for maximum enniatin production.