Ecteinascidia turbinate

Trabectedin (36 Yondelis, ecteinascidin-743, ET-743 Zelfia and Johnson and Johnson, 2007), a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid produced hy the ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinate,received approval for its sale in Europe, Russia and South Korea by Zelfia and Johnson and Johnson under the brand name YondelisT for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Trabectedin (36) binds to the minor groove of DNA and inhibits cell proliferation by disrupting the cell cycle. 

Isocyanide-based MCR was also applied for the total synthesis studies of natural products containing piperazine substructure. For example, trabectedin (also known as ecteinascidin 743 or ET-743) is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of breast, prostate, and pediatric sarcomas. Ecteinascidin 743 (2) is an extremely potent antitumor agent isolated from a marine tunicate, Ecteinascidia turbinate [12]. Eukuyama et al. developed the total synthesis of ecteinascidin 743 from a Ugi reaction [13]. The reaction of p-methoxyphenyl isocyanide 3 gave Ugi product 7, which was cyclized to DKP intermediate 8 (Scheme 1). 

Ecteinascidin 743 262 (Scheme 12.37) represents a powerful antitumor agent, which has been submitted to clinical trial. This complex polyazacydic, polyaromatic compound was isolated from the marine tunicate, Ecteinascidia turbinate [131]. A total synthesis of this natural product, which featured an Ugi four-component reaction as pivotal step, was recently reported by Fukuyama and co-workers [132]. The highly decorated phenylglycinol 263 was obtained via an asymmetric Mannich-type reaction [133], and was engaged in a multicomponent condensation process involving the protected amino acid 264, p-methoxyphenyl isocyanide 265 and acetaldehyde to afford dipeptide 266 in high yield. This com-... 

Trabectedin is one of the most important marine alkaloids derived from Ecteinascidia turbinate. It is used as anticancer agent, especially for ovarian cancer treatment. 

Ocotea leucoxylon (Lauraceae) Ecteinascidia turbinate (tunicate)... 

The bisanthraquinone antibiotic (4-)-BE-43472B was isolated by Rowley and his co-workers from a streptomycete strain found in a blue-green algae associated with the ascid-ian Ecteinascidia turbinate. The antibiotic exhibited potent inhibitory activities against an expanded panel of... 

Socha AM, Garcia D, Sheffer R, Rowley DC. Antibiotic bisanthraquinones produced by a streptomycete isolated from a cyanobacterium associated with Ecteinascidia turbinate. J. Nat. Prod. 2006 69(7) 1070-1073. 

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