Tridentata marginata Tridentatols

Marine hydroids are commonly defended from predation by nematocysts that are capable of penetrating the tissue of predators, and injecting proteinaceous venom. However, lipophilic secondary metabolites also protect many hydroid species. The hydroid Tridentata marginata is chemically defended by tridentatols A-D (85-88), of which tridentatol A (85) is a potent deterrent to fish predation (Scheme 22) [160]. 

Scheme 22 Wound-activated tridentatol-release by the hydroid Tridentata marginata...

The marine hydroid Tridentata marginata contained the aromatic alkaloids tridentatols A-C (186-188). Tridentatol A (186) inhibited feeding by the planehead filefish. The structure of tridentatol C (188) was elucidated by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study [179]. 

Lindquist, N., Lobkovsky, E., and Clardy, J., Tridentatols A-C, novel natural products of the marine hydroid Tridentata marginata, Tetrahedron Lett., 37, 9131, 1996. 

Lindquist, N. (2002) Tridentatols D—H, nematocyst metabolites and precursors of the activated chemical defense in the marine hydroid Tridentata marginata (Kirchenpauer 1864). J. Nat. Prod., 65, 681-684. 

---