Neo-Aplysiatoxin A Isolated from Okinawan Cyanobacterium .

A new aplysiatoxin derivative, neo-aplysiatoxin A (), along with seven known compounds, neo-debromoaplysiatoxin A (), dolastatin 3 (), lyngbic acid (), malyngamide M (), hermitamide A (), (-)-loliolide (), and (+)-epiloliolide (), was isolated from the Okinawan cyanobacterium . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, including high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic and diatom growth inhibition activities.

The cholinergic system in the olfactory center of the terrestrial slug Limax.

Acetylcholine plays various important roles in the central nervous system of invertebrates as well as vertebrates. In the olfactory center of the terrestrial slug Limax, the local field potential (LFP) oscillates, and the change in its oscillatory frequency is thought to correlate with the detection of odor that potentially changes an ongoing behavior of the animal. Acetylcholine is known to upregulate the frequency of the LFP oscillation, and is one of the candidates for the neurotransmitters that are involved in such higher cognitive functions.