Ascidia mentula

Ascidia mentula from the Mediterranean was the source of two antiproliferative alkyl sulfates, sodium salts of 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecane-l,19-diyl disulfate (164) and heneicosane-1,21-diyl disulfate (165) respectively [164], Microcosmus vulgaris, also... 

Aiello, A., Fattorusso, E., Metma, M., Camuccio, R., and D Acquisto, F. (1997a) Novel antiproliferative alkyl sulfates from the Mediterranean tunicate Ascidia mentula. Tetrahedron. 53, 5877-5882. 

This is currently the only polyclinid ascidian in which such substances have been identified. These molecules may act as anionic surfactants and protect the colony from bacterial and/or fungal attack (natural antifouling agents). One of these derivatives is 1,19-phytanediol disulfate, previously isolated from Ascidia mentula by the same Italian team. Its carbon chains may be of symbiotic or dietary origin (see Chapter 26) (Aiello et al, 1997a, 2001). 

The chemistry of the family Ascidiidae is essentially a matter of the presence and role of vanadium in species of the genus Ascidia. The identification of sulfated alkanes and terpenes in Ascidia mentula and peroxysterols in Ascidia nigra, Ascidiella aspersa and Phallusia mammil-lata has already been mentioned (see Chapter 26 and above in this chapter). An unusual peroxy derivative. 

---