Structure Diversity and Properties of Some Bola-like Natural Products.

In their shapes, molecules of some bipolar metabolites resemble the so-called bola, a hunting weapon of the South American inhabitants, consisting of two heavy balls connected to each other by a long flexible cord. Herein, we discuss the structures and properties of these natural products (bola-like compounds or bolaamphiphiles), containing two polar terminal fragments and a non-polar chain (or chains) between them, from archaea, bacteria, and marine invertebrates. Additional modifications of core compounds of this class, for example, interchain and intrachain cyclization, hydroxylation, methylation, etc.

Stonikacidin A, an Antimicrobial 4-Bromopyrrole Alkaloid Containing L-Idonic Acid Core from the Northwestern Pacific Marine Sponge .

Stonikacidin A (), the first representative of a new class of 4-bromopyrrole alkaloids containing an aldonic acid core, was isolated from the marine sponge . The compound is named in honor of Prof. Valentin A.

Rhizochalinin Exhibits Anticancer Activity and Synergizes with EGFR Inhibitors in Glioblastoma In Vitro Models.

Rhizochalinin (Rhiz) is a recently discovered cytotoxic sphingolipid synthesized from the marine natural compound rhizochalin. Previously, Rhiz demonstrated high in vitro and in vivo efficacy in various cancer models. Here, we report Rhiz to be highly active in human glioblastoma cell lines as well as in patient-derived glioma-stem like neurosphere models.

Assimiloside A, a Glycolipid with Immunomodulatory Activity from the Northwestern Pacific Marine Sponge .

Assimiloside A (), an unprecedented marine glycolipid containing a γ-lactone of 4,16,26-trihydroxy C fatty acid as an aglycon and a trisaccharide carbohydrate moiety, was isolated from the marine sponge . Its structure was elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chemical transformations, and ECD spectroscopy combined with time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Assimiloside A at nontoxic concentrations of 0.

Oscillations in the dentate gyrus as a tool for the performance of the hippocampal functions: Healthy and epileptic brain.

The dentate gyrus (DG) is part of the hippocampal formation and is essential for important cognitive processes such as navigation and memory. The oscillatory activity of the DG network is believed to play a critical role in cognition. DG circuits generate theta, beta, and gamma rhythms, which participate in the specific information processing performed by DG neurons.